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Hypoxic-preconditioning induces neuroprotection against hypoxia–ischemia in newborn piglet brain
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Hypoxic-preconditioning induces neuroprotection against hypoxia–ischemia in newborn piglet brain

Jahan Ara, Saskia Fekete, Melissa Frank, Jeffrey A. Golden, David Pleasure and Ignacio Valencia
Neurobiology of disease, v 43(2), pp 473-485
2011
PMID: 21554956
url
https://doaj.org/article/cdf855661a9f45f9866af9127e3b429dView
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Abstract

Hypoxia–ischemia Hypoxic-preconditioning Neuroprotection Newborn brain Piglet VEGF
Preconditioning-induced ischemic tolerance has been documented in the newborn brain, however, the signaling mechanisms of this preconditioning require further elucidation. The aims of this study were to develop a hypoxic-preconditioning (PC) model of ischemic tolerance in the newborn piglet, which emulates important clinical similarities to human situation of birth asphyxia, and to characterize some of the molecular mechanisms shown to be implicated in PC-induced neuroprotection in rodent models. One day old piglets were subjected to PC (8% O 2/92% N 2) for 3 h and 24 h later were exposed to hypoxia–ischemia (HI) produced by a combination of hypoxia (5% FiO 2) for a period of 30 min and ischemia induced by a period of hypotension (10 min of reduced mean arterial blood pressure; ≤ 70% of baseline). Neuropathologic analysis and unbiased stereology, conducted at 24 h, 3 and 7 days of recovery following HI, indicated a substantial reduction in the severity of brain damage in PC piglets compared to non-PC piglets ( P < 0.05). PC significantly increased the mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, 3 and 7 days of recovery. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that PC resulted in HIF-1α protein stabilization and accumulation in nuclear extracts of cerebral cortex of newborn piglet brain compared to normoxic controls. Protein levels of VEGF increased in a time-dependent manner in both cortex and hippocampus following PC. Double-immunolabeling indicated that VEGF is mainly expressed in neurons, endothelial cells and astroglia. Our study demonstrates for the first time the protective efficacy of PC against hypoxic–ischemic injury in newborn piglet model, which recapitulates many pathophysiological features of asphyxiated human neonates. Furthermore, as has been shown in rodent models of preconditioning, our results suggest that PC-induced protection in neonatal piglets may involve upregulation of VEGF. ► Hypoxic-preconditioning model of ischemic tolerance in a newborn piglet. ► Hypoxic-preconditioning reduces the brain damage induced by cerebral hypoxia–ischemia in newborn piglets. ► Hypoxic-preconditioning induces the expression of HIF-1α and its target gene VEGF.

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Neurosciences
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