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A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis
Published on: January 7, 2018
Impact of prenatal hypoxia on the development and behavior of the rat offspring
M Piešová1, M Koprdová, E Ujházy
1Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. mojmir.mach@savba.sk.
Insights
Prenatal hypoxia in rats delays sensorimotor development and impacts postnatal growth. This exposure alters adult behavior, including anxiety and hyperactivity, particularly in males, suggesting links to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal hypoxia poses significant risks to fetal development.
- Understanding the long-term effects of prenatal hypoxia is crucial for identifying potential neurodevelopmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prenatal hypoxia on postnatal development and behavior in rats.
- To assess sex-specific effects of prenatal hypoxia on neurodevelopment and emotional regulation.
Main Methods:
- Maternal rats were exposed to hypoxia (10.5% O2) for 12 hours on gestational day 20.
- Postnatal development, sensorimotor milestones, and adult behaviors (anxiety, sociability, hyperactivity) were assessed in offspring.
- Behavioral tests included the Open Field (OF), Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), Locomotor Distance (LD), and social interaction tests.
Main Results:
- Prenatal hypoxia led to delayed sensorimotor development and reduced postnatal weight in pups, with persistent weight deficits in adult males.
- Adult hypoxic males exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, higher sucrose preference, and hyperactivity.
- Hypoxic females showed reduced sociability, while both sexes displayed hyperactivity in specific tests.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal hypoxia is associated with significant alterations in postnatal development and behavior, including impaired emotion regulation and activity levels.
- The findings suggest a potential link between prenatal hypoxia and conditions like ADHD, ASD, and anxiety disorders.
- Male rats appear more vulnerable to the neurodevelopmental consequences of prenatal hypoxic insults.
Abstract:
The healthy development of the fetus depends on the exact course of pregnancy and delivery. Therefore, prenatal hypoxia remains between the greatest threats to the developing fetus. Our study aimed to assess the impact of prenatal hypoxia on postnatal development and behavior of the rats, whose mothers were exposed to hypoxia (10.5 % O2) during a critical period of brain development on GD20 for 12 h. This prenatal insult resulted in a delay of sensorimotor development of hypoxic pups compared to the control group. Hypoxic pups also had lowered postnatal weight which in males persisted up to adulthood. In adulthood, hypoxic males showed anxiety-like behavior in the OF, higher sucrose preference, and lower levels of grimace scale (reflecting the degree of negative emotions) in the immobilization chamber compared to the control group. Moreover, hypoxic animals showed hyperactivity in EPM and LD tests, and hypoxic females had reduced sociability compared to the control group. In conclusion, our results indicate a possible relationship between prenatal hypoxia and changes in sociability, activity, and impaired emotion regulation in ADHD, ASD, or anxiety disorders. The fact that changes in observed parameters are manifested mostly in males confirms that male sex is more sensitive to prenatal insults.
