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Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
Published on: July 30, 2016
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Melatonin treatment during chronic hypoxic gestation improves neonatal cerebrovascular function
Alejandro A Candia1, Pamela V Arias2, Cristopher González-Candia2
1Vascular Function & Reactivity Lab, Pathophysiology Program, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Chile; Department for the Woman and Newborn Health Promotion, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Vascular Pharmacology
|February 12, 2022
Summary
Melatonin given to pregnant sheep at high altitude improved blood flow in their newborns. This suggests melatonin may help prevent brain blood vessel issues in babies born with chronic hypoxia.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal medicine
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fetal chronic hypoxia increases perinatal risks due to brain oxidative damage and altered blood flow.
- Melatonin is known to reduce oxidative stress, enhance vascular function, and offer neuroprotection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal melatonin supplementation on neonatal cerebrovascular function in high-altitude sheep exposed to chronic hypoxia.
- To assess the effects of antenatal melatonin on cerebral blood flow regulation and middle cerebral artery responses in newborn lambs.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant ewes at high altitude received oral melatonin or vehicle during the last trimester of gestation.
- Lambs underwent daily hemodynamic monitoring and cerebrovascular response assessments to graded oxygenation.
- Middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were analyzed for vascular function, protein expression, and structure post-mortem.
Main Results:
- Maternal melatonin treatment elevated plasma melatonin levels in ewes and improved carotid blood flow while reducing resistance in lambs.
- Melatonin enhanced the maximal vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses of the lambs' MCA.
- These vascular improvements involved both nitric oxide-dependent and independent pathways.
Conclusions:
- Oral melatonin administration during pregnancy enhances postnatal cerebral perfusion in neonates suffering from chronic hypoxia.
- Melatonin presents a promising therapeutic strategy for managing cerebrovascular dysfunction associated with perinatal chronic hypoxia.
