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Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods
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Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods

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Infants with congenital heart defects have reduced brain volumes

Mikkel B Skotting1, S F Eskildsen2, A S Ovesen3

  • 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Aarhus, Denmark. mbskotting@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports
|February 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) have smaller brains, including the cerebrum and cerebral grey matter. This brain volume difference, evident shortly after birth, suggests developmental impacts may begin during pregnancy, potentially explaining cognitive disability risks.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are linked to cognitive disabilities, but the underlying reasons are unclear.
  • Previous research suggests disrupted fetal brain growth in CHDs, with reduced brain volumes observed at birth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate regional brain volume differences in infants with and without CHDs using MRI.
  • To identify specific brain areas at risk of disrupted growth in infants with CHDs.

Main Methods:

  • MRI brain volumetry was performed on 20 infants (10 with CHDs, 10 without).
  • Total and regional brain volumes were measured. Grey and white matter differentiation was performed in a subset of infants.

Main Results:

  • Infants with CHDs exhibited significantly smaller total brain volumes (-48 ml) compared to controls.
  • Reduced volumes were observed in the cerebrum (-37.8 ml) and cerebral grey matter (-25.8 ml) in infants with CHDs.
  • These differences were apparent within weeks after birth.

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms smaller brain volumes in infants with CHDs, affecting key regions like the cerebrum.
  • These findings suggest that brain development is impacted early in pregnancy for infants with CHDs.
  • This early brain impact may contribute to the increased risk of cognitive disabilities associated with CHDs.

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