title: Neuroprotective properties of melatonin in a model of birth asphyxia in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).
abstract: Birth asphyxia is associated with disturbed development of the neonatal brain. In this study, we determined if low-dose melatonin (0.1 mg/kg/day), administered to the mother over 7 days at the end of pregnancy, could protect against the effects of birth asphyxia in a precocial species - the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus). At 37 days of gestation (term is 38-39 days), pups were subjected to birth asphyxia (7.5 min uterine ischemia) and compared to Cesarean section-delivered controls. At 24 h of age, birth asphyxia had increased markers of CNS inflammation (microglia, macrophage infiltration) and apoptosis (activated caspase-3, fractin) in cortical gray matter, which were reduced to control levels by prior maternal melatonin treatment. Melatonin may be an effective prophylactic agent for use in late pregnancy to protect against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury at birth.
authors.affiliation: Fetal and Neonatal Research Group, Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.forename: Mahila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbass
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D005260:Female; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D051189:Murinae; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3; D008550:Melatonin