Effect of Intrauterine Growth Retardation on the Postnatal Development of D-β-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase Activity in Rat Brain

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Abstract
The postnatal development of the activity of D-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in brain mitochondria was studied in rats with experimentally induced intrauterine growth retardation as compared to normal littermates. Variances in weight of the newborn animals were greater between than within litters, therefore the paired t test was used when analyzing possible differences between intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) animals and controls. IUGR animals remained smaller as estimated by length and weight than their normal littermates up to the age of 60 days. Brain weight was reduced in newborn and 5-day-old IUGR rats but the brain-body ratio was increased from birth up to 60 days of age. At 20 days of age, when the activity of the enzyme reached a peak value, the growth retarded animals had a significantly lower activity of D-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase as compared to controls. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly lower in newborn and 10-day-old IUGR rats as compared to controls. Plasma concentrations of .D-β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate were higher during the suckling period than after weaning, but there were no differences between the growth retarded animals and their normal littermates.

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