Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment confers neuroprotection in a rat model of perinatal cerebral hypoxia-ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that pretreatment with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a potentially neuroprotective polyunsaturated fatty acid, would improve function and reduce brain damage in a rat model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.


METHODS
Seven-day-old rats were divided into 3 treatment groups that received intraperitoneal injections of DHA 1, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg as DHA-albumin complex and 3 controls that received 25% albumin, saline, or no injection. Subsequently, rats underwent right carotid ligation followed by 90 minutes of 8% oxygen. Rats underwent sensorimotor testing (vibrissae-stimulated forepaw placing) and morphometric assessment of right-sided tissue loss on postnatal day 14.


RESULTS
DHA pretreatment improved forepaw placing response to near-normal levels (9.5 +/- 0.9 treatment vs 7.1 +/- 2.2 controls; normal = 10; P < .0001). DHA attenuated hemisphere damage compared with controls (P = .0155), with particular benefit in the hippocampus with 1 mg/kg (38% protection vs albumin controls).


CONCLUSIONS
DHA pretreatment improves functional outcome and reduces volume loss after hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal rats.
Berman
Deborah R
DR
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Mozurkewich
Ellen
E
Liu
Yiqing
Y
Barks
John
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids