Neuroprotective Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Neonatal Hypoxia Ischemia-Induced Brain Injury in Rats.
Dev Neurosci
; 38(5): 384-396, 2016.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28226317
ABSTRACT
Perinatal hypoxia ischemia (HI) is a significant cause of brain injury in surviving infants. Although hypothermia improves outcomes in some infants, additional therapies are needed since about 40% of infants still have a poor outcome. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), an acetylated derivative of L-carnitine, protected against early changes in brain metabolites and mitochondrial function after HI on postnatal day (PND) 7 in a rat pup model of near-term HI injury. However, its efficacy in long-term structural and functional outcomes remains unexplored. We determined the efficacy of ALCAR therapy administered to rat pups after HI at PND 7, using both longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tests, in male and female rats. HI led to sex-specific behavioral impairment, with males exhibiting more global functional deficits than females. Interestingly, HI reduced the volume of the contralateral hemisphere in males only, suggesting that the brain injury is more diffuse in males than in females. Treatment with ALCAR improved both morphological and functional outcomes in both male and female rats. These results suggest that ALCAR may be a potential therapy for clinical use since the treatment attenuated the moderate injury produced under the experimental conditions used and improved the functional outcome in preclinical studies.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Acetilcarnitina
/
Comportamento Animal
/
Fármacos Neuroprotetores
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Hipóxia-Isquemia Encefálica
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Dev Neurosci
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos