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Hyperbaric oxygenation prevented brain injury induced by hypoxia-ischemia in a neonatal rat model
John W Calvert1, Wei Yin, Mona Patel
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
Insights
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy shows promise in protecting the neonatal brain from hypoxia-ischemia (HI) brain damage. This treatment reduced neuronal injury and improved sensorimotor function in rat pups, offering a potential new therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neonatal Medicine
- Hyperbaric Medicine
Background:
- Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in neonates causes severe neuronal damage, leading to lifelong disabilities.
- Current treatments for neonatal HI are ineffective, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective potential of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy against neonatal HI brain injury.
- To assess the impact of HBO on neuronal damage and sensorimotor function following HI.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal rat pups were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation and hypoxia.
- Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment was administered 1 hour after hypoxia exposure.
- Brain injury was evaluated using hemispheric weight, light microscopy, electron microscopy, and sensorimotor functional tests.
Main Results:
- HBO treatment significantly reduced brain atrophy and apoptosis in HI-exposed rat pups.
- The ipsilateral hemisphere weight in HBO-treated pups was significantly higher compared to untreated controls.
- Sensorimotor function was notably improved in rat pups that received HBO therapy.
Conclusions:
- Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects against neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.
- HBO treatment attenuates neuronal injury progression and enhances sensorimotor function recovery.
- This study suggests HBO as a potential therapeutic intervention for neonatal HI brain damage.
Abstract:
The occurrence of hypoxia-ischemia (HI) during early fetal or neonatal stages of an individual leads to the damaging of immature neurons resulting in behavioral and psychological dysfunctions, such as motor or learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or even death. No effective treatment is currently available and this study is the first to use hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) as a treatment for neonatal HI. Herein, we sought out to determine if HBO is able to offer neuroprotectivity against an HI insult. Seven-day-old rat pups were subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by 2.5 h of hypoxia (8% O(2) at 37 degrees C). HBO treatment was administered by placing pups in a chamber (3 ATA for 1 h) 1 h after hypoxia exposure. Brain injury was assessed based on ipsilateral hemispheric weight divided by contralateral hemispheric weight, light microscopy, and EM. Sensorimotor functional tests were administered at 5 weeks after hypoxia exposure. After HI, the ipsilateral hemisphere was 52.65 and 57.64% (P<0.001) of the contralateral hemisphere at 2 and 6 weeks, respectively. In HBO treated groups, the ipsilateral hemisphere was 77.77 and 84.19% (P<0.001) at 2 and 6 weeks. There was much less atrophy and apoptosis in HBO treated animals under light or electron microscopy. Sensorimotor function was also improved by HBO at 5 weeks after hypoxia exposure (Chi-square, P<0.050). The results suggest that HBO is able to attenuate the effects of HI on the neonatal brain by reducing the progression of neuronal injury and increasing sensorimotor function.