[Impact of fetal growth restriction on spatial learning and memory abilities of the offspring of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To test the impact of fetal growth restriction (FGR) on the spatial learning and memory abilities of the offspring of rats.


METHODS
FGR Model of Sprague-Dawley rats was constructed according to the method of passive smoking. The offspring of the rats were divided into male FGR group, male control group, female FGR group and female control group. Within each group, the rats were randomly divided into three subgroups to be tested at 1, 2, and 4 months of age, respectively (n =10 for each subgroup). Morris water maze task was performed to assess the spatial learning and memory abilities of the rats.


RESULTS
The escape latencies to find the platform were shortened with increased training times for all of the rats. At the age of 1 and 2 months, both male and female rats in the FGR group spent more time in finding the platform than their counterparts in the control group (P < 0.05). At the age of 4 months, significant prolonged latency was only found in the female rats. The rats in the FGR group, except the 4 months old male rats, were more likely to use non-effective strategies (random or marginal strategies) to find the platform than the efficient strategies (tendency or straight strategies). The rats in the FGR group stayed in the platform shorter than those in the control groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
FGR can cause gender- and age-specific impairment of spatial learning and memory abilities to the offspring.
Huang
Pu
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi' an Jiaotong University, Xi' an 710061, China.
Gou
Wen-li
WL
Jiang
Ma-li
ML
Zhang
Rui
R
Sun
Yun-ping
YP
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution