Exp. Path., Bd. 12, S. 309 -314 (1976) Medical Academy Magdeburg, Institute of Pathology (Head: Prof. Dr. sc. med. W. KUHNE)

An experimental model for inducing fetal hypotrophy in the rabbit By K. DIETZMANN and W. LESSEL With 3 figures (Received May 3, 1976) Key-words: fetus; haemolysis; hypoxia; intrauterine malnutrition; rabbit

Summary Intravenous injection of a saponin-collargol solution into pregnant rabbits induced, in addition to haemolysis and decrease in body weight of the gravid animals, a dose-dependent intrauterine deficient development of the fetuses accompanied by pronounced general reduction in body weight and disproportionate growth of fetal organs. Brain, heart, lungs, and the kidneys to a lesser degree, were found to be comparatively heavier when compared to the total body weight. The reasons discussed are hypoxia-dependent deficiency in glycogen and glucose, nutritional factors resulting from malnutrition, intoxication, and placental insufficiency due to infarctions, particularly for groups II and III. The importance of clinical investigations in man and experimental studies in animals relating to the problems of "small-for-date infants" is emphasized by the fact that fetal deficient development occurs in approximately four percent of all pregnancies (BUSCH 1969). In a variety of experiments in animals, such as restricting the maternal blood supply of the placenta (WIGGLESWORTH 1966), drastic reduction of food available to pregnant animals (CHOW and LEE 1964), immuhOlogical impairment of the placenta (GOETZE et 301. 1973), and prolongation of gestation (WILLGEROTH et 301. 1973). In addition, fetal respOnse and intrauterine growth were studied. Exposure to high altitudes is also known to adversely affect the growth of fetus in utero and children (LICHTY et a1. 1957). Recent studies of the glycogen content in the brains of perinatal and newborn rabbits under conditions of experimental hypoxia (LESSEL and DIETZMANN 1975) revealed a reduction in body and brain weights of the fetuses after chronic intrauterine hypoxia. The purpose of the present work was to determine whether this method is suited for producing an intrauterine deficient development of the fetuses.

Material and methods Experimental animals were 28 cross-bred, two-year-old female rabbits of the same age, weighing between 3500 and 4000 g, and reared in individual cages under identical conditions. They were fed constantly with a mixed diet consisting of pellets and fresh vegetables. All female rabbits were mated on the same day. During pregnancy the food supply was extended by increasing the amounts of fresh vegetables and pellets. Four animals were not treated and these served as the controls. The remaining animals received ten intravenous injections of a saponin-collargol solution in order to induce a haemolysis (LIETZ and MATTHIES 1966); from the 13th day of gestation, Group No. I comprising seven animals received 24 ml per animal, group o. II consisting of eight animals was given 40 ml per animal, and 65 ml per animal were administered to the 9 animals of group No. III. Three animals were n~t pregnant (2 and 1 animals from groups Nos. I and II respectively) and 4 animals died (1 and 3 ammals from groups Nos. II and III respectively.) For evaluation, the following numbers of animals remained: Controls: 4 animals with a total of 18 fetuses Group No. I: 5 animals with a total of 20 fetuses Group No. II: 6 animals with a total of 25 fetuses Group No. III: 6 animals with a total of 25 fetuses.

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Fig. 1. Mean values of body weight of the rabbit fetuses on the 31st day of gestation. N = control group with an average body weight of 41 g; I = dosage of 24 ml, average body weight of 32 g; II = dosage of 40 ml, average body weight of 20.3 g; III = dosage of 65 ml, average body weight of 1.8 g.

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An experimental model for inducing fetal hypotrophy in the rabbit.

Intravenous injection of a saponin-collargol solution into pregnant rabbits induced, in addition to haemolysis and decrease in body weight of the grav...
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