title: Docosahexaenoic acid confers neuroprotection in a rat model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia potentiated by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipopolysaccharide pretreatment potentiates hypoxic ischemic injury. We hypothesized that docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment would improve function and reduce brain volume loss in this rat model of perinatal brain injury and inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven-day-old rats were divided into 3 groups: intraperitoneal docosahexaenoic acid 1 mg/kg and lipopolysaccharide 0.1 mg/kg, 25% albumin and lipopolysaccharide, and normal saline. Injections were given 2.5 hours before carotid ligation, followed by 90 minutes 8% O2. Rats underwent sensorimotor function testing and brain volume loss assessment on postnatal day 14.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment improved vibrissae forepaw placing scores compared with albumin/lipopolysaccharide (mean+/-standard deviation weighted score/20: 17.72+/-0.92 docosahexaenoic acid/lipopolysaccharide vs 13.83+/-0.82 albumin/lipopolysaccharide; P<.007). Albumin/lipopolysaccharide rats scores were worse than those of the normal saline/normal saline rats (13.83+/-0.82 vs 17.21+/-0.71; P=.076). No significant differences in brain volume loss were observed among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipopolysaccharide inflammatory stimulation in conjunction with hypoxic ischemic resulted in poorer function than hypoxic ischemic alone. Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment had significantly improved function in neonatal rats exposed to lipopolysaccharide and hypoxic ischemic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Deborah R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Yi Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barks
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mozurkewich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016014:Linear Models; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids