GROWTH-RETARDATION IN PREGNANCY - EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL IN THE RABBIT EMPLOYING ELECTRICALLY-INDUCED THERMAL PLACENTAL INJURY

Intrauterine growth retardation involves haemodynamic modifications in the uterus and placenta. In order to study intrauterine growth retard ation we obtained an electrically induced thermal placental injury in a rabbit experimental model. The effects on weight of fetuses, placent as and single organs were recorded and statistically analysed. Fetal g rowth retardation was recorded in 71% of fetuses exposed to 15 mA dire ct current per 40 seconds, and resulted in only 7.9% of normal fetuses . The data presented in this study have shown a retardation of fetal g rowth particularly evident in the liver weight with a relative sparing of brain development. Kidney and heart do not. present. a statistical ly significant reduction in growth. This growth retardation model is s imple and readily reproducible.