Neuroprotective properties of melatonin in a model of birth asphyxia in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

Abstract

Birth asphyxia is associated with disturbed development of the neonatal brain. In this study, we determined if low-dose melatonin (0.1 mg/kg/day), administered to the mother over 7 days at the end of pregnancy, could protect against the effects of birth asphyxia in a precocial species - the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus). At 37 days of gestation (term is 38-39 days), pups were subjected to birth asphyxia (7.5 min uterine ischemia) and compared to Cesarean section-delivered controls. At 24 h of age, birth asphyxia had increased markers of CNS inflammation (microglia, macrophage infiltration) and apoptosis (activated caspase-3, fractin) in cortical gray matter, which were reduced to control levels by prior maternal melatonin treatment. Melatonin may be an effective prophylactic agent for use in late pregnancy to protect against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury at birth.

• Authors: Lisa C Hutton, Mahila Abbass, Hayley Dickinson, Zoe Ireland, David W Walker
• Journal: Developmental neuroscience (Dev Neurosci) Vol. 31 Issue 5 Pg. 437-51 ( 2009) ISSN: 1421-9859 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 19684403 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Caspase 3
• Melatonin

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Apoptosis
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Cell Count
• Cerebral Cortex (metabolism, pathology)
• Cytoprotection
• Female
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain (drug therapy, pathology)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Infusion Pumps, Implantable
• Macrophage Activation
• Melatonin (administration & dosage, blood, therapeutic use)
• Microglia (metabolism)
• Murinae
• Neurons (metabolism, pathology)
• Oligodendroglia (metabolism, pathology)
• Pregnancy
• Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects (metabolism)
• Radioimmunoassay
• Staining and Labeling