title: Neuroprotection by the cannabinoid agonist WIN-55212 in an in vivo newborn rat model of acute severe asphyxia.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of the cannabinoid agonist WIN-55212 after inducing acute severe asphyxia in newborn rats. The left common carotid artery was ligated in anaesthetised 7-day-old Wistar rats, which were then asphyxiated by inhaling 100% nitrogen for 10 min. Pups recovering from asphyxia were s.c. administered vehicle (n=23), WIN-55212 (0.1 mg/kg, n=18), or WIN-55212 plus the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716 (3 mg/kg, n=10). Pups undergoing a sham operation served as controls (n=12). Coronal sections of the brain were obtained on the 14th day after surgery and observed under light microscope after Nissl or Fluoro-Jade B (FJB) staining, to respectively quantify surviving or degenerating neurones in the CA1 area of the hippocampus and parietal cortex. Acute asphyxia led to early neurone loss amounting to 19% in the hippocampus and 29% in the cortex (both ANOVA P<0.05 vs. control). Delayed neurone loss occurred in the proportions 13% in the hippocampus and 20% in the cortex (both ANOVA P<0.05 vs. control). Neuronal loss was fully prevented by WIN-55212 administration. Co-administration of SR141716 failed to modify the protective effect of WIN-55212 on early neuronal death, but abolished the WIN-55212-induced prevention of delayed neuronal death. We conclude that when administered after acute severe asphyxia in newborn rats, WIN-55212 shows a neuroprotective effect, reducing both early and delayed neurone loss. This effect is achieved through two parallel CB1-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Area de Pediatría y Neonatología, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Avda. Budapest 1, 28990 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. josemorg@inicia.es
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Orgado
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Frutos
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Leire
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urigüen
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: M Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Viveros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D048588:Benzoxazines; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077285:Rimonabant
chemical_list: D048588:Benzoxazines; D002186:Cannabinoids; D009025:Morpholines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C070417:(3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone; D000077285:Rimonabant