Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2011;13(5):415-418

Expression of NGF and TrkA in the brain of rats with intrauterine growth retardation.

Xiang QU 1 ; Bao-Ping HE ; Hua WANG

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of brain development delay in rats with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) by examining the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and tyrosine kinase receptor A (Trk A) in the brain.

METHODSThirty-two pregnant rats were randomly fed with a normal diet (control group) or lower protein diet (IUGR group) during pregnancy (n=16 each). The pup rats were sacrificed at 0, 7, 14 or 21 days after birth. The protein levels of NGF and TrkA in the brain were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSThe levels of NGF and TrkA in the brain in pup rats of the IUGR group were significantly lower than those in the control group 0, 7, 14 and 21 days after birth.

CONCLUSIONSThe decreased expression of protein levels of NGF and TrkA in the brain might be one of the causes of brain development delay in IUGR rats.