Abstract

ROMANELLI, A. et al. Restricción del crecimiento intrauterino y peso del cerebro en relación con sus órganos vitales en lechones neonatos: consideraciones para la producción porcina. RIA. Rev. investig. agropecu. [online]. 2020, vol.46, n.2, pp.171-176. ISSN 1669-2314.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to the insufficient development of the embryo/fetus and its organs, resulting in low birth weights piglets. It is most commonly caused by placental insufficiency, in response to which the fetus adapts its circulation to preserve oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain (‘brain-sparing’). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between piglets’ weight and brain/vital organ weight ratio, as an indicator of placental insufficiency. Eighty (n:80) piglets from 35 (n:35) healthy sows of first partum were used. All piglets which died during the peripartum and up to the first 24 h after birth were necropsied. Piglets gender, animal and organs weights (liver, heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, intestine, spleen, empty and full stomach) were noted. They were classified as normo-weight (> 1 kg), low-weight (< 1kg) and restricted piglets (< 1kg and with light bulb-like forehead, bulging eyes, wrinkles perpendicular to the mouth). Brain/organ weight ratios and causes of death: stillborn, crushed, dead due starvation and other causes were recorded. Spearman’s rank correlations were used to identify relationships between variables and ANOVA and Tukey Test was used to evaluate group effect (normo-weight, low-weight and IUGR) for each ratio. The mean weight of the low-weight and IUGR was 0,817±0,132 kg and 0,559±0,116 kg, respectively vs normo-weight with 1,307±0,181 kg. IUGR piglets showed significantly higher brain/vital organs ratios than low and normo-weight piglets. Statistically significant correlations (p<0,05) between piglets’ weights and ratios, except brain/spleen, were found. Nutrients in IUGR fetuses are preferable destined for the brain with asymmetric growth of vital organs. Identification of IUGR piglets associated with placental insufficiency, should be used as a tool to apply strategies of management and genetic selection to improve productivity in commercial pig farms.

Keywords : intrauterine growth restriction; piglets; placental nutrition..

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