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

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