Lactoferrin/sialic acid prevents adverse effects of intrauterine growth restriction on neurite length: investigations in an rabbit neurosphere model.

Introduction: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a well-known cause of impaired neurodevelopment during life. In this study, we aimed to characterize alterations in neuronal development underlying IUGR and discover strategies to ameliorate adverse neurodevelopment effects by using a recently established rabbit in vitro neurosphere culture.

Methods: IUGR was surgically induced in pregnant rabbits by ligation of placental vessels in one uterine horn, while the contralateral horn remained unaffected for normal growth (control).