BRAIN MRI FINDINGS IN IUGR RATS

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心，不一定是研究者所在机构。9 T MRI磁体-子宫胎盘功能不全和随后的IUGR影响了这个国家所有怀孕的3-10%。不幸的是，IUGR儿童有神经发育迟缓和神经内分泌重编程的风险。当大鼠出现IUGR时，其大脑的特征在于多个分子变化，包括细胞凋亡的初始增加，以及糖皮质激素受体和L1细胞粘附分子等蛋白质的基因表达的变化。此外，我们的行为学研究表明，海马功能可能受到IUGR的影响。这项工作的目标是将MRI结果与分子和行为结果相关联。感兴趣的问题包括皮质、海马和全脑的不同体积以及对照组和IUGR大鼠髓鞘形成的相对程度。这项工作最重要的方面是分子/行为变化与MRI结果之间的相关性。了解两者之间的关系将允许更具体的解释MRI结果在人类IUGR人群。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. 9T MRI magnet--Uteroplacental insufficiency and subsequent IUGR affects 3-10% of all pregnancies in this country. Unfortunately, IUGR children are at risk for neurodevelopmental delay and neuroendocrine reprogramming. When rats are rendered IUGR, their brains are characterized by mutiple molecular changes changes including an initial increase in apoptosis, as well as changes in gene expression of proteins such as the glucocorticoid receptor and the L1 cell adhesion molecule. Furthermore, our behavioral studies suggest that hippocampal function may be affected by IUGR. The goal of this work is to correlate MRI findings with the molecular and behavioral findings. Questions of interest include the the differential volumes of the cortex, hippocampus and total brain and the relative degrees of myelination in control and IUGR rats. The most important aspect of this work is the correlation between the molecular/behavioral changes and the MRI finidngs. Understanding the relationship between the two will allow for more specific interpretations of MRI findings in the human IUGR population.