en Neuroscience Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Background and Aim:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> This study aims to determine the histological evolution of the relationship between the dura mater and the walls of the arteries with the encephalic destination in fetuses of different ages.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Methods and Materials/Patients</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: We conducted a prospective descriptive study over 4 months. It included eight fetuses aged between 24 and 34 weeks of amenorrhea obtained after informed consent from the parents. Four fetuses were less than 30 weeks old and four were more than 30 weeks old. After the previously formalized anatomical dissection of the fetal skull base, partial pairs of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries were removed at the level of the dural crossing. Samples were fixed with 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin before routine histochemical (hematoxylin-eosin) and immunohistochemical (<span style="background:white"><span style="color:#4d5156">matrix </span></span>metalloproteinase <span style="background:white"><span style="color:#4d5156">7&nbsp;</span></span>[MMP7]) staining. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Results:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> We observed a &quot;separation zone&quot; between the dura mater and the arterial wall that is complete in fetuses between 24 and 29 weeks gestation. This cleavage zone disappeared in fetuses of 30 weeks gestation and more. This dural-arterial contact, observed from this age onwards, bears witness to a progressive arterial &quot;invasion&quot; by the dura mater, to reach the aspect observed in adults, characterized by the penetration of dural fibers into the arterial wall.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Conclusion:</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> The duro-arterial relationship at the intersection level is a dynamic phenomenon that has been going on since the antenatal period.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</div> Key words: Dural crossing, Internal carotid artery, Distal dural ring, Vertebral artery 210 214 http://irjns.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-537-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Leon Boukassa lboukassalouf@gmail.com 100319475328460011348 100319475328460011348 Yes Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Hugues Brieux Ekouele-Mbaki hugues.ekouele-mbaki@umng.cg 100319475328460011349 100319475328460011349 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Ruth Ibara Wame ibarawame@gmail.com 100319475328460011350 0009-0007-0482-644X No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Olivier Brice Ngackosso lair.olive1@gmail.com 100319475328460011351 100319475328460011351 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Sinclair Brice Kinata Bambino Kinatabambino@gmail.com 100319475328460011352 100319475328460011352 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Fabien Gael Mouamba mfabiengael@gmail.com 100319475328460011353 100319475328460011353 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Rel Boukaka Kala rel_boukaka@yahoo.fr 100319475328460011354 100319475328460011354 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo. Gédeon Colin Thouassa gedcolinthouassa@gmail.com 100319475328460011355 0009-0003-5785-4576 No Department of Doctoral Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, Brazzaville University Hospital Center, Brazzaville, Congo.