A clinically relevant model of perinatal global ischemic brain damage in rats.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

We have designed a clinically relevant model of perinatal asphyxia providing intrapartum hypoxia in rats. On gestation day 22 SD rats were anesthetized and the uterine horns were exteriorized and placed in a water bath at 37°C for up to 20min. After this, pups were delivered from the uterus and manually stimulated to initiate breathing in an incubator at 37°C for 1 h in air. Brains were harvested and stained with cresyl violet, caspase-3, and TUNEL to detect morphological and apoptotic changes on postnatal days (PND) 1, 3, and 7. Separate cohorts were maintained until PND 50 and tested for learning and memory using Morris water maze (WM). Survival rate was decreased with longer hypoxic time, and 100% mortality was noted when hypoxia time was beyond 18min. Apoptosis was increased with the duration of hypoxia with neuronal loss and cell shrinkage in the CA1 of hippocampus. The time taken for the juveniles to locate the hidden platform during WM was increased in animals subjected to hypoxia. These data demonstrate that perinatal ischemic injury leads to neuronal death in the hippocampus and long-lasting cognitive dysfunction. This model mimics hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in humans and may be appropriate for investigating therapeutic interventions.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Yang, T; Zhuang, L; Terrando, N; Wu, X; Jonhson, MR; Maze, M; Ma, D

Published Date

  • April 6, 2011

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 1383 /

Start / End Page

  • 317 - 323

PubMed ID

  • 21281606

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1872-6240

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.01.081

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Netherlands