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Published on: November 20, 2015
Patterns of cerebral injury in a primate model of preterm birth and neonatal intensive care
Terrie Inder1, Jeffrey Neil, Bradley Yoder
1Department of Newborn Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Insights
Preterm birth can cause brain damage and developmental issues. A preterm baboon model shows similar brain injuries, aiding research into treatments for premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Very preterm birth (VPTB) is linked to significant neurodevelopmental morbidity, including cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.
- The exact nature of brain lesions in VPTB infants is unclear, but likely involves cerebral injury and altered development due to neonatal intensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of preterm birth and neonatal intensive care (NIC) on the immature brain.
- To establish a relevant preterm primate model for studying brain injury and development.
Main Methods:
- A preterm primate model was developed, delivered at 125/184 days gestation.
- The model underwent 2-4 weeks of neonatal intensive care, mimicking human infant care.
- Neuropathological analysis identified common brain injuries.
Main Results:
- The preterm baboon model exhibits white-matter damage (astrogliosis, microglial activation), enlarged ventricles, and hemorrhages (subarachnoid, germinal matrix, intraventricular).
- These findings align with neuropathology observed in human preterm infants.
- The model demonstrates similarities in cerebral developmental alterations and injury patterns.
Conclusions:
- The preterm baboon is a relevant model for studying the effects of preterm birth and NIC on brain development and injury.
- This model facilitates research into potential therapies, such as respiratory interventions, to mitigate brain damage in preterm infants.
Abstract:
Very preterm birth is associated with significant neurodevelopmental morbidity, with 10% to 15% of these infants later developing cerebral palsy and up to 50% experiencing learning disabilities. The nature of the cerebral lesion predisposing these infants to such impairments is not fully understood but is likely related to both cerebral injury and alterations in cerebral development associated with neonatal intensive care. To study the impact of both preterm birth and neonatal intensive care on the immature brain, we are studying a preterm primate model delivered at 125 days of a 184-day gestational period and cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit for 2 to 4 weeks in a fashion highly similar to that for human preterm infants. The most common neuropathology in this model is white-matter damage manifested by reactive astrogliosis or activated microglia and enlarged ventricular size. Subarachnoid, germinal matrix, and intraventricular hemorrhages are also common. These preliminary results support the similarity of this model to both the alterations in cerebral developmental and the pattern of cerebral injury found in human preterm infants. We are now investigating the impact of randomized respiratory therapies on the pattern of cerebral injury. The prematurely born baboon appears to be an accurate and relevant model for the study of preterm human birth.
