Vascular-induced intrauterine growth retardation: Relations between birth weight and the development of biochemical parameters in young rabbits

The development of biochemical parameters (cellular DNA and protein) in relation to birth weight was studied in the rabbit, a perinatal brain developer. To induce intrauterine growth retardation and to increase the number of low-birth-weight rabbits, experimental ischemia, in half the fetuses of each doe, was achieved by total ligation of ~ 30% of uteroplacental vessels during the last third of gestation. Following natural delivery, the rabbit pups were raised until 60 days of age, at which time the brains were removed and dissected into cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum and brain stem. The amount of DNA (representing cell number) and protein (suggesting cell size) was estimated in each brain region. A significant correlation was found between low birth weight and reduced DNA in the cerebellum and reduced protein in the cerebral hemispheres. These persistent deficiencies could be related to some lasting handicaps, especially motor incoordination, as an expression of cerebellar dysfunction.