Fetus

About: Fetus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 21567 publications have been published within this topic receiving 646380 citations. The topic is also known as: foetus & fœtus.

Neurological evaluation of the maturity of newborn infants

Abstract: Cerebral maturation during the last three months of fetal life brings about constant modification of muscle tone and of certain reflexes. This has enabled a scheme to be devised, whereby the neurological maturity of the premature infant at different ages can be assessed. Saint-Anne Dargassies (1955) defined this neurological progression by analysing a group of 100 prematures of known gestational age, and the longitudinal evolution of healthy prematures, born at 28 weeks' gestational age and studied up to 40 weeks' gestational age. The clinical results have been compared with the electroencephalographic (Dreyfus-Brisac, Flescher, and Plassart, 1962) and anatomical (Larroche, 1962) stages of development of the brain. In applying this maturation scheme to 'small-for-dates' babies it has been concluded that brain development during fetal life progresses independently of unfavourable gestational circumstances. Chronic fetal stress is reflected mainly in the birthweight and to a lesser degree in the body length at birth. The brain, however, from the point of view of anatomy and physiology, evolves more in proportion to the gestational age (Gesell and Amatruda, 1945; Bergstrom, Gunther, Olow, and Soderling, 1955; Saint-Anne Dargassies, 1955). The original observations on which this paper is based are those of Minkowski, Larroche, Vignaud, Dreyfus-Brisac, and Saint-Anne Dargassies (1966). This paper presents a practical method for applying clinically the principles described by these authors. Butler and Bonham (1963) estimated that a third of infants weighing less than 2500 g. have a gestational age greater than 38 weeks. The small-for-dates baby is liable to develop serious metabolic disturbance shortly after birth; for this reason it is imperative that the assessment of gestational age be made early. Occasionally the initial neurological evaluation of maturation is confused by signs of neurological disorders. But, as a rule, neurological examination during the first days of life can provide

Diet-Induced Obesity Model: Abnormal Oocytes and Persistent Growth Abnormalities in the Offspring

Abstract: Associations between maternal obesity and adverse fetal outcomes are well documented, but the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Most previous work has focused on postconceptional events, however, our laboratory has shown pre- and periconceptional aberrations in maternal glucose metabolism have adverse effects on oocytes and embryos that carry on to the fetus. To demonstrate effects of maternal obesity in the pre- and periconceptional periods, we compared reproductive tissues from diet-induced obese female mice to those of control mice. Ovaries were either stained for follicular apoptosis or dissected and evaluated for oocyte size and meiotic maturation. Mice were also mated and followed for reproductive outcomes including preimplantation embryonic IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) immunostaining, midgestation fetal growth, and midgestational placental IGF receptor 2 (Igf2r) mRNA. Delivered pups were followed for growth and development of markers of metabolic syndrome. Compared with controls, obese mice had significantly more apoptotic ovarian follicles, smaller and fewer mature oocytes, decreased embryonic IGF-IR staining, smaller fetuses, increased placental Igf2r mRNA, and smaller pups. All weaned pups were fed a regular diet. At 13 wk pups delivered from obese mice were significantly larger, and these pups demonstrated glucose intolerance and increased cholesterol and body fat suggesting early development of a metabolic-type syndrome. Together, our findings suggest maternal obesity has adverse effects as early as the oocyte and preimplantation embryo stage and that these effects may contribute to lasting morbidity in offspring, underscoring the importance of optimal maternal weight and nutrition before conception.