title: Delayed growth, motor function and learning in preterm pigs during early postnatal life.
abstract: Preterm birth interrupts normal fetal growth with consequences for postnatal growth and organ development. In preterm infants, many physiological deficits adapt and disappear with advancing postnatal age, but some may persist into childhood. We hypothesized that preterm birth would induce impaired organ growth and function during the first postnatal week in pigs, while motor abilities and behavioral characteristics would show more persistent developmental delay. Cesarean-delivered preterm (n = 112, 90% gestation) or term (n = 56, 100% gestation) piglets were reared under identical conditions and euthanized for blood and organ collection on postnatal days 0, 5, or 26. Body weight gain remained lower in preterm vs. term pigs up to day 26 (25.5 ± 1.5 vs. 31.0 ± 0.5 g·kg(-1)·day(-1), P < 0.01) when relative weights were higher for brain and kidneys and reduced for liver and spleen. Neonatal preterm pigs had reduced values for blood pH, Po2, glucose, lactate, hematocrit, and cortisol, but at day 26, most values were normalized, although plasma serotonin and IGF 1 levels remained reduced. Preterm pigs showed delayed neonatal arousal and impaired physical activity, coordination, exploration, and learning, relative to term pigs (all P < 0.05). Supplementation of parenteral nutrition during the first 5 days with an enteral milk diet did not affect later outcomes. In preterm pigs, many physiological characteristics of immaturity disappeared by 4 wk, while some neurodevelopmental deficits remained. The preterm pig is a relevant animal model to study early dietary and pharmacological interventions that support postnatal maturation and neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Frederiksberg C, Denmark;
authors.forename: Anders D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; and.
authors.forename: Per T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Sangild
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Frederiksberg C, Denmark;
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Munch
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Research, Utrecht, Netherlands;
authors.forename: Eline M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van der Beek
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Research, Utrecht, Netherlands;
authors.forename: Ingrid B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Renes
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chris van
authors.initials: Cv
authors.lastname: Ginneken
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; and.
authors.forename: Gorm O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Greisen
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Science, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; thomas.thymann@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thymann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001143:Arousal; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009929:Organ Size; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011247:Pregnancy; D034421:Sus scrofa; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: behavior; neurodevelopment; preterm birth