Perinatal Ontogeny of Brain Growth in the Domestic Pig

Abstract

Abstract. The perinatal development of the brain is highlighted by a growth spurt whose timing varies among species. The growth of the porcine cerebrum was investigated from the third trimester of gestation (70 days postconception) through the first 3.5 weeks of postnatal life (140 days postconception). The shape of the growth curves for cerebrum weight, total protein mass, total cell number (estimated by DNA content), and myelination (estimated by cholesterol accretion) were described. The growth velocity of cerebrum weight had two peaks, one at 90 days and the other at 130 days postconception, whereas that of total protein was greatest from 90 to 130 days postconception, and that of total DNA was greatest between 90 and 110 days and again at 130 days postconception. The growth velocity for total cholesterol continued to increase during the entire period, suggesting that myelination continued after the growth spurts for cells (protein and DNA). The growth velocity patterns observed in these contemporary pigs suggest that this species may be an appropriate model for human brain development, not only in the perinatal pattern of increase in mass of the cerebrum, as established previously, but also with regard to the patterns of cellular development and myelination.

Post-hypoxic hypothermia is protective in human NT2-N neurons regardless of oxygen concentration during reoxygenation

“…The anatomy and physiology is comparable to humans 253 , with brain maturation, growth and myelinisation 254 and distribution of grey and white matter 251 similar to the 36-38-week human newborn 255 . Further, the newborn pig displays the same type of organ injury and cardiovascular response to global hypoxia-ischaemia as the human: It has a similar cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to hypoxiaischaemia 256 , similar vulnerability of specific cerebral regions 158 and similar pattern and time course of delayed energy failure 53 .…”

Linoleic and α-linolenic acid as precursor and inhibitor for the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in liver and brain of growing pigs

“…The timing of the pig brain growth spurt is similar to that in humans (Dobbing and Sands, 1979;Pond et al, 2000). Several trials with young piglets were conducted to study the effect of dietary fat on brain fatty acid composition (Arbuckle et al, 1991;De la Presa-Owens et al, 1998;Arbuckle and Innis, 2003).…”

“…This animal model has three major advantages over rodents when studying lipid metabolism. First, brain anatomy and morphology and the timing of the brain growth spurt in pigs and humans are similar (Pond et al, 2000;Duhaime, 2006). Second, the anatomy of the digestion system, including liver, stomach and intestine, and also many of the pathways of lipid metabolism in pigs are rather similar to human (Moughan et al, 1991;Innis, 1993).…”

Brain inflammation induced by severe asphyxia in newborn pigs and the impact of alternative resuscitation strategies on the newborn central nervous system

“…The newborn pig model matches the human newborn in size and weight, anatomy and physiology (32), brain growth and myelinization (33), maturation (34), and distribution of gray/white matter (35); these parameters are all comparable with those in human neonates. The experimental protocol was approved by the Norwegian Council for Animal Research.…”