Treatment of intrauterine growth restriction with maternal growth hormone supplementation in sheep.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to investigate whether maternal growth hormone supplementation in pregnant sheep could reverse intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induced by placental embolization.

STUDY DESIGN

Animals were randomized into control, intrauterine growth restriction + saline or intrauterine growth restriction + growth hormone (twice daily injections of 0.1 mg/kg growth hormone) groups. Intrauterine growth restriction was induced by twice daily placental embolization between 93 and 99 days' gestation, and treatment was from 100-128 days' gestation (term = 147 days' gestation).

RESULTS

Embolization reduced fetal growth rate and body weight but increased brain-to-liver weight ratio. Growth hormone treatment significantly increased fetal growth rates and fat deposition, and improved fetal body weight and length, but not liver weight. Growth hormone treatment produced hydranencephalic brain lesions in some fetuses.

CONCLUSION

Maternal growth hormone treatment partially reversed intrauterine growth restriction caused by placental insufficiency. However, the possible connection between growth hormone treatment and fetal brain injury requires further investigation.