Neonatal
hypoxia-
ischemia (HI) is a devastating condition resulting in neuronal cell death and often culminates in neurological deficits.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (
G-CSF) has been shown to have neuroprotective activity via inhibition of apoptosis and
inflammation in various
stroke models.
Stem cell factor (SCF) regulates hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and has been reported to have neuroprotective properties in an experimental
ischemic stroke model. In this study we aim to determine the protective effects of
G-CSF in combination with SCF treatment after experimental HI. Seven-day old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to unilateral carotid artery
ligation followed by 2.5 hours of
hypoxia. Animals were randomly assigned to five groups:
Sham (n=8), Vehicle (n=8), HI with
G-CSF treatment (n=9), HI with SCF treatment (n=9) and HI with G-CSF+SCF treatment (coadministration group; n=10).
G-CSF (50 µg/kg), SCF (50 µg/kg) and G-CSF+SCF (50 µg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally 1 hour post HI followed by daily injection for 4 consecutive days (five total
injections). Animals were euthanized 14 days after HI for neurological testing. Additionally assessment of brain, heart, liver, spleen and kidney
atrophy was performed. Both
G-CSF and G-CSF+SCF treatments improved body growth and decreased brain
atrophy at 14 days post HI. No significant differences were found in the peripheral organ weights between groups. Finally, the G-CSF+SCF coadministration group showed significant improvement in neurological function. Our data suggest that administration of
G-CSF in combination with SCF not only prevented brain
atrophy but also significantly improved neurological function.