Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Use of an Eight-arm Radial Water Maze to Assess Working and Reference Memory Following Neonatal Brain Injury
Published on: December 4, 2013
[Impact of fetal growth restriction on spatial learning and memory abilities of the offspring of rats]
Pu Huang1, Wen-li Gou, Ma-li Jiang
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi' an Jiaotong University, Xi' an 710061, China.
Insights
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) impairs spatial learning and memory in young rats, with lasting effects seen in females. This highlights potential long-term cognitive deficits in offspring exposed to FGR.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Reproductive Science
Context:
- Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects a significant number of pregnancies.
- Understanding the long-term consequences of FGR on offspring neurodevelopment is crucial.
- Previous research has indicated potential impacts of prenatal insults on cognitive functions.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of FGR on the spatial learning and memory of rat offspring.
- To determine if these effects are gender- and age-dependent.
Summary:
- A rat model of FGR was established using passive smoking.
- Offspring were assessed using the Morris water maze at 1, 2, and 4 months of age.
- FGR offspring exhibited deficits in spatial learning and memory, particularly females at 4 months, and used less effective strategies.
Impact:
- FGR can lead to gender- and age-specific impairments in spatial cognition.
- Findings suggest potential long-term neurological consequences of FGR in offspring.
- This research contributes to understanding the developmental origins of cognitive disorders.
Objective:
To test the impact of fetal growth restriction (FGR) on the spatial learning and memory abilities of the offspring of rats.
Methods:
FGR Model of Sprague-Dawley rats was constructed according to the method of passive smoking. The offspring of the rats were divided into male FGR group, male control group, female FGR group and female control group. Within each group, the rats were randomly divided into three subgroups to be tested at 1, 2, and 4 months of age, respectively (n =10 for each subgroup). Morris water maze task was performed to assess the spatial learning and memory abilities of the rats.
Results:
The escape latencies to find the platform were shortened with increased training times for all of the rats. At the age of 1 and 2 months, both male and female rats in the FGR group spent more time in finding the platform than their counterparts in the control group (P < 0.05). At the age of 4 months, significant prolonged latency was only found in the female rats. The rats in the FGR group, except the 4 months old male rats, were more likely to use non-effective strategies (random or marginal strategies) to find the platform than the efficient strategies (tendency or straight strategies). The rats in the FGR group stayed in the platform shorter than those in the control groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
FGR can cause gender- and age-specific impairment of spatial learning and memory abilities to the offspring.
