title: Learning and memory disabilities in IUGR babies: Functional and molecular analysis in a rat model.
abstract: 1Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the failure of the fetus to achieve its inherent growth potential, and it has frequently been associated with neurodevelopmental problems in childhood. Neurological disorders are mostly associated with IUGR babies with an abnormally high cephalization index (CI) and a brain sparing effect. However, a similar correlation has never been demonstrated in an animal model. The aim of this study was to determine the correlations between CI, functional deficits in learning and memory and alterations in synaptic proteins in a rat model of IUGR.
  
  
  
  2Utero-placental insufficiency was induced by meso-ovarian vessel cauterization (CMO) in pregnant rats at embryonic day 17 (E17). Learning performance in an aquatic learning test was evaluated 25 days after birth and during 10 days. Some synaptic proteins were analyzed (PSD95, Synaptophysin) by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  
  3Placental insufficiency in CMO pups was associated with spatial memory deficits, which are correlated with a CI above the normal range. CMO pups presented altered levels of synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin in the hippocampus.
  
  
  
  4The results of this study suggest that learning disabilities may be associated with altered development of excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Although interspecific differences in fetal response to placental insufficiency should be taken into account, the translation of these data to humans suggest that both IUGR babies and babies with a normal birth weight but with intrauterine Doppler alterations and abnormal CI should be closely followed to detect neurodevelopmental alterations during the postnatal period.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Service Sant Joan de Déu BCNatal Hospital Sant Joan de Déu i Clínic University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9202-4664
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camprubí Camprubí
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics School of Medicine University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Rafel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balada Caballé
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics School of Medicine University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain; Present address: Department of Neurology Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University Chicago IL 60611 USA.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ortega Cano
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering University Pablo de Olavide - CABIMER - CIBERDEM Sevilla Spain.
authors.forename: Maria de Los Angeles
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ortega de la Torre
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro Vigo Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duran Fernández-Feijoo
authors.affiliation: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya Sant Cugat del Vallès Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girabent-Farrés
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Service Sant Joan de Déu BCNatal Hospital Sant Joan de Déu i Clínic University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figueras-Aloy
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Service Sant Joan de Déu BCNatal Hospital Sant Joan de Déu i Clínic University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Krauel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics School of Medicine University of Barcelona Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alcántara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010927:Placental Insufficiency; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: cephalization index; intrauterine growth restriction; learning; placental insufficiency; spatial memory; synaptic plasticity