Table 3 Absolute and relative regional brain weights. Data are pooled and presented as main effects of diet and birth weight (n = 18). Data are shown as mean ± SD. All data were analysed using a linear mixed model except water percentage which was analysed by a Mann–Whitney test. p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. VEG vegetable oil, MILK bovine milk fat, NBW normal birth weight, IUGR intrauterine growth restricted.

From: Brain lipidomics and neurodevelopmental outcomes in intrauterine growth restricted piglets fed dairy or vegetable fat diets

 

Diet

Birth weight

p value

VEG

MILK

NBW

IUGR

pDIET

pWEIGHT

Absolute brain weights (g)

Total brain

46.9 ± 3.33

46.1 ± 3.43

48.7 ± 2.57

44.3 ± 2.50

0.3

< 0.001

Cerebellum

5.03 ± 0.36

5.11 ± 0.42

5.27 ± 0.33

4.87 ± 0.33

0.7

< 0.01

Cerebrum

36.4 ± 2.69

35.6 ± 2.84

37.9 ± 2.17

34.2 ± 1.91

0.3

< 0.001

Brain stem

4.70 ± 0.40

4.85 ± 0.46

4.94 ± 0.32

4.62 ± 0.48

0.3

< 0.05

Left hippocampus

0.77 ± 0.10

0.74 ± 0.09

0.80 ± 0.08

0.71 ± 0.08

0.3

< 0.01

Caudate nucleus

0.39 ± 0.07

0.41 ± 0.05

0.42 ± 0.06

0.39 ± 0.06

0.4

0.1

Water percentage (%)a

0.818 ± 0.004

0.818 ± 0.004b

0.819 ± 0.003

0.817 ± 0.005b

0.8

0.2

Relative brain weights (%)c

Total brain

1.42 ± 0.40

1.33 ± 0.39

1.21 ± 0.18

1.63 ± 0.38

0.7

< 0.001

Cerebellum

10.7 ± 0.49

11.1 ± 0.33

10.8 ± 0.47

11.02 ± 0.41

< 0.05

0.06

Cerebrum

77.7 ± 0.86

76.9 ± 0.90

77.6 ± 1.00

77.0 ± 0.85

< 0.05

0.05

Brain stem

10.0 ± 0.47

10.5 ± 0.70

10.1 ± 0.50

10.4 ± 0.74

< 0.05

0.2

Left hippocampus

1.64 ± 0.17

1.61 ± 0.13

1.65 ± 0.15

1.60 ± 0.16

0.6

0.2

Caudate nucleus

0.84 ± 0.14

0.90 ± 0.13

0.86 ± 0.13

0.88 ± 0.14

0.2

0.8

  1. aWater percentage = left cerebral hemisphere weight before and after dehydration for 2 weeks at 50 °C.
  2. bOne piglet was removed due to a measurement error (n = 17).
  3. cRegional brain weights as a percentage of total brain weight or total brain weight as a percentage of body weight.
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