title: Fetal growth-retardation and brain-sparing by malnutrition are associated to changes in neurotransmitters profile.
abstract: The present study assesses possible changes in the levels of different neurotransmitters (catecholamines and indoleamines) in fetuses affected by nutrient shortage. Hence, we determined the concentration of catecholamines and indoleamines at the hypothalamus of 56 swine fetuses obtained at both 70 and 90days of pregnancy (n=33 and 23 fetuses, respectively). The degree of fetal development and the fetal sex affected the neurotransmitters profile at both stages. At Day 70, there were found higher mean concentrations of l-DOPA in both female and male fetuses with severe IUGR; male fetuses with severe IUGR also showed higher concentrations of TRP than normal male littermates. At Day 90 of pregnancy, the differences between sexes were more evident. There were no significant effects from either severe IUGR on the neurotransmitter profile in male fetuses. However, in the females, a lower body-weight was related to lower concentrations of l-DOPA and TRP and those female fetuses affected by severe IUGR evidenced lower HVA concentration. In conclusion, the fetal synthesis and use of neurotransmitters increase with time of pregnancy but, in case of IUGR, both catecholamines and indoleamines pathways are affected by sex-related effects.
authors.affiliation: INIA, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Contreras
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, UAB, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valent
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, UCM, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, UAB, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, UCM, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Isabel
authors.affiliation: INIA, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary, UAB, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassols
authors.affiliation: INIA, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: bulnes@inia.es.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Bulnes
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D048070:Fetal Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005333:Fetus; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: Brain-sparing; Catecholamines; Indoleamines; Intrauterine-growth-restriction; Neurotransmitters; Swine