Intrauterine Growth Retardation (Malnutrition by Vascular Ligation) Induces Modifications in Fatty Acid Composition of Neurons and Oligodendrocytes

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Abstract
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) induced by ligation of 1 uterine artery on day 17 of pregnancy in the rat leads to major abnormalities in the fatty acid content of neurons and oligodendrocytes but not in astrocytes. In neurons from IUGR rats, monounsaturated fatty acids decreased; in the polyunsaturated series, .omega.-3 fatty acids increased and .omega.-6 fatty acids decreased. In oligodendrocytes, monounsaturated fatty acids also decreased but the modifications in polyunsaturated fatty acids were the opposite of those in neurons: .omega.-3 being decreased and .omega.-6 increased. Although the animals received a normal diet after birth, the alterations were still present in adulthood. Fatty acid composition of brain cells is a very indicative criterion of brain maturation.