[The quantitative and morphological analysis of placenta and brain in rabbits with intrauterine fetal growth retardation].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the changes of quantitative and morphological structure in placenta and fetal brain of rabbits with intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR) resulted from exposure to cigarette smoking.

METHODS

The pure species of 23 pregnant New Zealand rabbits were used and divided into three groups. (1) group A: 9 rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoking everyday in the whole period of pregnancy; (2) group B: 7 rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoking everyday in the late half period of pregnancy; (3) group C: no smoking, as control group. The villus area of placenta, the capillary area in villus and the thickness of granulosa layer in fetal brain were studied by histomorphometric parameter.

RESULTS

It was showed that the placental villus area was decreased significantly in group A than that of the control group. The capillary area in villus of both group A and group B was less than that of the group C. The thickness of granulosa layer in cerebrum and cerebellum of group B is less than that of the control group. Nevertheless, only the thickness of granulosa layer in cerebrum of group B decreased significantly than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The development of cerebrum in fetal rabbits were influenced significantly by smoking. The development of cerebellum was influenced by smoking mainly in the early half period of pregnancy. It means that the most important time for cerebellum development is the early period of pregnancy and both the early and late half period of pregnancy were important for the cerebrum development.