Deep hypothermic shock reverses the damage caused by perinatal asphyxia in the rat's striatum

ANDRES ACUÑA, MANUEL SOLIÑO, JUAN JOSE LOPEZ, CÉSAR FABIÁN LOIDL, VÁZQUEZ-BORSETTI P

Congreso; XXXII CONGRESO ANUAL SAN; 2017

Deep hypothermic shock reverses the damage caused by perinatal asphyxia in the rat´s striatum.The striatum is particularly vulnerable to perinatal asphyxia (PA). The main cells of this structure are the median spiny neurons, which are GABAergic calbindin (CB) positive neurons. At the time of delivery GABA has excitatory properties and the excitotoxicity process could be mediated through GABA-GABA synapses. The GFAP is an astrocyte protein that is overexpress after brain injury. The present work aims to quantify CB and GFAP after exposure to PA in the striatum and to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a short and deep hypothermic shock after asphyxia.The uterus was removed by caesarean section and the fetuses were exposed to hypoxia (19 min at 37 C˚) by immersion in water and, also, exposed to a temperature of 10 C˚ for 30 min in case of the hypothermic group. Four experimental groups of 3-4 rats each were formed. The labeling of CB, GFAP, neuN, DAPI was measured in adult rats. In the PA group there was a significant decrease in CB positive neurons and an increase in GFAP expression compared to control. Treatment with post-asphyxia hypothermia prevented changes in CB and GFAP showing expression levels similar to control. The quantification of NeuN, DAPI did not show differences between groups. Perinatal asphyxia generates a decrease in the GABAergic cells of the striatum and increase a marker of brain insult as GFAP. Hypothermia seems to reverse this damage. Deep hypothermia could be a superlative option to reduce severe disability generated by the PA.