[Study of the effects of utero-placental ischemia on the body and nervous system development in fetal rats].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the effects of utero-placental ischemia on the body and nervous system development in fetal rats.


METHODS
By clamping the unilateral uterine artery of the rat, we produced a utero-placental ischemia model. The opposite uterus of the rat with normal uterine artery supply served as control. We compared the body weight, weight of brain, and the expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) mRNA in cerebral tissue by RT-PCR in the 13 day (group 1) and 17 day (group 2) old fetal rats respectively.


RESULTS
The body weight and weight of brain in group 1 were 3.2 g and 0.16 g respectively, significantly lower than those of control 1 of 3.6 g and 0.18 g respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The body weight and weight of brain in group 2 were 3.1 g and 0.16 g respectively, also significantly lower than those of control 2 of 3.72 g and 0.17 g respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in cerebral tissue of the group 1 (1.10) and its control (1.12) showed no obvious difference (P > 0.05). However, GAP-43 mRNA in cerebral tissue of the group 2 (1.06) was significantly decreased compared with that of its control (1.21) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSION
Clamping the uterine artery can mimic intrauterine ischemia and produce FGR model. Intrauterine ischemia in the late stage of pregnancy may decrease the expression of GAP-43 mRNA, which might affect the development of nervous system in rats.