Myelination deficits in fetal growth restriction: Understanding mechanisms for novel therapies

Intrauterine growth restriction affects 10% of all pregnancies in the developed world. Being born growth restricted predisposes an infant to neurodevelopmental disabilities which include cerebral palsy. This is mainly due to reduced myelin formation in the brain. Myelin insulates the axons or the wiring of the brain for its proper function. This thesis explored mechanisms underpinning these deficits in myelination and investigated novel therapies to ameliorate the neurodevelopmental deficiencies. This thesis, for the first time, has demonstrated irregularities in mechanisms that are vital for myelin development. It also provided foundational evidence for the effective use of a novel targeted therapy to improve myelination.