Abstract

TOME LOPEZ, Orlando et al. Somatometric study of offsprings of rats with intrauterine growth retardation from birth to weaning. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2006, vol.25, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3011.

The modifications of early postnatal somatometry were proved in offsprings of rats with intrauterine growth retardation, comparing them with a control group. The intrauterine growth retardation was induced by ligation of the uterine artery in both horns on the 16th day of gestation in  Sprague Dawley rats. The offsprings of both groups were divided into 4 subgroups. The weight, height and cranial diameters were measured at birth, 7, 14 and 21 days. The results showed a severe reduction of weight, height and cranial diameters at birth in the fetuses of the experimental group. The weight was recovered 14 days later, but the height and cranial diameters were not. It was observed that the decrease of blood flow in the last week of gestation caused somatosometric alterations in the studied offsprings that are maintained until weaning.

Keywords : Intrauterine growth retardation,; somatometry; rats offsprings.