Assessment of in vivo fetal growth and placental vascular function in a novel intrauterine growth restriction model of progressive uterine artery occlusion in guinea pigs

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="tjp7057-list-0001">Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with short‐ and long‐term detrimental cardiometabolic effects.Mice and rats are commonly used to assess IUGR, but differences in placental and fetal developmental physiology relative to those in humans highlight the need for alternative small animal IUGR models.We developed a guinea pig IUGR model by gradual occlusion of uterine arteries by ameroid constrictor implantation. In this model, reduced uterine blood flow was associated with IUGR, allowing in vivo assessment of fetal growth trajectory and umbilico‐placental vascular function in conscious animals.The intervention induces placental vascular dysfunction and remodelling, as well as altered fetal abdominal growth resulting in an asymmetric IUGR and preserved brain growth.