Neurodegeneration, neuronal loss, and neurotransmitter changes in the adult guinea pig with perinatal asphyxia.
There is only limited morphologic information on long-term alterations and neurotransmitter changes after perinatal asphyxia, and no long-term study showing neurodegeneration has been reported so far. We used an animal model for perinatal asphyxia well documented in the rat to investigate the guinea pig as a species highly mature at birth. Cesarean section was performed on full-term pregnant guinea pigs, and pups, still in membranes, were placed into a water bath at 37 degrees C for asphyxia periods from 2 to 4 min. Thereafter pups were given to surrogate mothers and examined at 3 mo of age. We studied brain areas reported to be hypoxia-sensitive. Neurodegeneration was evaluated by fluoro-jade, neuronal loss by Nissl, reactive gliosis by glial fibrillary acidic protein staining, and differentiation by neuroendocrine-specific protein C immunoreactivity. We tested tyrosine hydroxylase, the vesicular monoamine transporter, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase, representing the monoaminergic system; the vesicular acetylcholine transporter; and the excitatory amino acid carrier 1. Neurodegeneration was evident in cerebellum, hippocampal area CA1, and hypothalamus, and neuronal loss could be observed in cerebellum and hypothalamus; gliosis was observed in cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and parietal cortex; dedifferentiation was found in hypothalamus and striatum; and monoaminergic, cholinergic, and amino acidergic deficits were shown in several brain regions. The major finding of the present study was that neurodegeneration and dedifferentiation evolved in the guinea pig, a species highly mature at birth. The relevance of this contribution is that a simple animal model of perinatal asphyxia resembling the clinical situation of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia and presenting with neurodegeneration was characterized.
Bernert
Guenther
G
Department of Pediatrics, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Hoeger
Harald
H
Mosgoeller
Wilhelm
W
Stolzlechner
Doris
D
Lubec
Barbara
B
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents