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Description of a method for inducing fetal growth restriction in the spiny mouse

Part of: DOHaD ANZ Conference 2016

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2017

H. Dickinson ,
S. Ellery ,
M. Davies-Tuck ,
M. Tolcos ,
I. Nitsos ,
D. W. Walker  and
S. L. Miller
H. Dickinson*
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
S. Ellery
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
M. Davies-Tuck
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
M. Tolcos
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
I. Nitsos
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
D. W. Walker
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
S. L. Miller
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: H. Dickinson, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, The Ritchie Centre, Clayton, VIC, Australia. (Email [email protected])
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Abstract

Intrauterine or fetal growth restriction (IUGR) is a major complication of pregnancy and leads to significant perinatal morbidities and mortality. Typically, induction of IUGR in animals involves the complete occlusion or ablation of vessels to the uterus or placenta, acutely impairing blood flow and fetal growth, usually with high fetal loss. We aimed to produce a model of reduced fetal growth in the spiny mouse with minimal fetal loss. At 27 days gestational age (term is 38–39 days), a piece of silastic tubing was placed around the left uterine artery to prevent the further increase of uterine blood flow with advancing gestation to induce IUGR (occluded). Controls were generated from sham surgeries without placement of the tubing. Dams were humanely euthanized at 37 days gestational age and all fetuses and placentas were weighed and collected. Of the 17 dams that underwent surgery, 15 carried their pregnancies to 37 days gestational age and 95% of fetuses survived to this time. The difference in fetal body weight between occluded and control was ~21% for fetuses in the left uterus side: there were no differences for fetuses in the right uterus side. Offspring from the occluded group had significantly lower brain, liver, lung, kidney and carcass weights compared with shams. Preventing the gestation-related increase of uterine blood flow induced significant growth restriction in the fetal spiny mouse, with minimal fetal loss. This technique could be readily adapted for other small animal.

Keywords

Acomys cahirinusbrain sparingfetal growth restriction (FGR)intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 8 , Issue 5: Themed Issue: Australian Perspectives: Outcomes from the 2016 ANZ , October 2017 , pp. 550 - 555
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2017 

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