Neurorestorative and protective effects of palmitoylethanolamide in perinatal asphyxia: an analysis of the rat striatum

LUCAS UDOVIN; TAMARA KOBIEC; MARÍA INÉS HERRERA; FRANCISCO CAPANI

Córdoba

Congreso; XXXIII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2018

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Perinatal asphyxia (PA), caused by low O2 availability during birth, is associated with brain damage, being the striatum one of the most affected areas. Palmitoylethanolamide(PEA) is a neuroprotective amide in brain injury models, including PA. However, its effects against PA require deeper study in the striatum. Using Bjelke model,full term pregnant rats were rapidly decapitated, and uterus horns placed in water bath (37°C,19min). One hour after, rats were treated with PEA (10mg/kg,s.c.) and later given to surrogate mothers. Thirty day animals were perfused and striatum wasa nalysed either for immunohistochemistry (n=3) and blotting (n=3). Phosphorylated high/medium molecular weight neurofilaments (pNF-H/M), Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP2), and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were analysed. 2-way ANOVA followed by Tukey analysis revealed a reduction in: pNF-H/M and MAP2 reactive areas (45% and 70%), GFAP+ cells (20%) and reduced MAP2 and pNF-H/M protein levels in PA-rat striatum respectively to the control value. PEA totally restored GFAP+ cells and MAP2 immunoreaction and partially prevented the decreased pNF-H/M reactive area (78%) induced by PA. PEA also reversed the MAP2 reduction and partially prevented the decrease of pNF-H/M protein levels induced by PA. No alteration in the GFAP protein levels was detected. PEA treatment attenuated the striatum damage induced by PA, demonstrating its therapeutic potential against PA.