Neurodevelopmental outcomes in a preclinical fetal growth restriction model treated with melatonin and umbilical cord blood stem cells

Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) is a common pregnancy complication. It affects brain development, especially in the hippocampus, a key region essential for cognitive function. Currently, no treatment exists to prevent FGR-induced brain injury. This thesis demonstrates that FGR impairs cognitive function and changes hippocampal cell structure, making them less complex with fewer branches. Antenatal melatonin or postnatal umbilical cord blood stem cell treatment was neuroprotective and neuroregenerative, improving learning and memory and restoring neuronal complexity. These findings provide critical insight into the neurodevelopmental impacts of FGR and support the clinical translation of these therapies to improve outcomes in growth-restricted infants.