Oxidative stress and
neuroinflammation play crucial roles in the progression of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).
Genistein, a natural
phytoestrogen, has been found to protect against ischemic
brain injury. However, its effects and potential mechanisms in HIBD have not yet been explored.
Methods: Results: Our results showed that
genistein treatment effectively reduced
cerebral infarction, attenuated neuronal injury and apoptosis, and contributed to the long-term recovery of neurological outcomes and brain
atrophy in neonatal HIBD mice. Moreover,
genistein ameliorated HIBD-induced oxidative stress and
neuroinflammation. Meanwhile,
genistein significantly increased cell viability, reversed neuronal injury and decreased cell apoptosis after OGD/R injury. Finally, the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway by
genistein were verified in the brain tissues of neonatal mice subjected to HIBD and in primary cortical neurons exposed to OGD/R.
Conclusions: