Maternal creatine: Does it reach the fetus and improve survival after an acute hypoxic episode in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus)?

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that elevating creatine in the maternal diet would reach fetal and placental tissues and improve fetal survival after acute hypoxia at birth. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant spiny mice were fed a control or 5 creatine-supplemented diet from day 20 of gestation (term, approximately 39 days). On days 37-38, intrauterine hypoxia was induced by placement of the isolated uterus in a saline solution bath for 7.5-8 minutes, after which fetuses were expelled from the uterus and resuscitation was attempted by manual palpation of the chest. Total creatine content (creatine + phosphocreatine) of placental, fetal, and maternal organs was measured. RESULTS: The maternal creatine diet significantly increased total creatine content in the placenta, fetal brain, heart, liver, and kidney and increased the capacity of offspring to survive birth hypoxia. Maternal creatine improved postnatal growth after birth hypoxia. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that creatine has potential as a prophylactic therapy for pregnancies that are classified as high risk for fetal hypoxia.