Lack of apoptosis in the hypoxic brain of a rat model mimicking cyanotic heart disease

Objective : To assess the effect of chronic hypoxia on brain neuronal apoptosis, an animal model mimicking cyanotic heart disease was utilized. Methods : Rats were placed in an hypoxic environment at birth and oxygen levels were maintained at 10% in an air-tight Plexiglass chamber. Controls remained...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain injury 2002-10, Vol.16 (10), p.891-900
Main Authors: Bitar, Fadi F., Sabban, Marwan El, Bitar, Hala, Diab, Karim, Mroueh, Salman, Nasser, Michel, Mikati, Mohammad, Dbaibo, Ghassan S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Ceramides - analysis
Chronic Disease
Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava
Cyanosis - complications
Cyanosis - physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Heart
Heart Defects, Congenital - complications
Heart Defects, Congenital - physiopathology
Hippocampus - chemistry
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Hypoxia, Brain - complications
Hypoxia, Brain - physiopathology
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Medical sciences
Neurons - physiology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Summary:Objective : To assess the effect of chronic hypoxia on brain neuronal apoptosis, an animal model mimicking cyanotic heart disease was utilized. Methods : Rats were placed in an hypoxic environment at birth and oxygen levels were maintained at 10% in an air-tight Plexiglass chamber. Controls remained in room air. Animals were sacrificed and the brains were harvested at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. Results : Significant polycythemia developed in the hypoxic rats at 1 and 4 weeks. Indexed brain mass to body weight was significantly increased in the hypoxic groups by 18% ( p < 0.01) and 38% ( p < 0.01) as compared to controls at 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. There was no difference in the number of apoptotic neurons between the chronically hypoxic rats and controls, as assayed by TUNEL labelling and Hoechst staining. The role of the sphingolipid ceramide was then examined because of its reported role in stress response, growth suppression and apoptosis. It was found that the brain ceramide accumulation was not significantly different in the hypoxic and control groups at 1 and 4 weeks. Conclusion : A protective adaptive response to chronic hypoxia in the neonatal brain may exist.
ISSN:0269-9052
1362-301X
DOI:10.1080/02699050210147194