Platelet-activating factor antagonist BN 50730 attenuates hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats

Xiao Hong Liu, Baik Lin Eun, John D.E. Barks

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    27 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a lipid derived from break-down of cell membranes that is postulated to be a mediator of cerebral ischemic injury. PAF regulates CNS gene transcription via intracellular binding sites. To test the hypothesis that PAF mediates CNS injury in part by modulating gene transcription, we evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of the drug BN 50730, an antagonist of the intracellular (microsomal) CNS PAF binding site, in the neonatal rat model of unilateral cerebral hypoxia-ischemia. Seven-day-old rats underwent right carotid ligation followed by a 2.5-h exposure to 8% O2, and were then treated with BN 50730 (2.5 or 25 mg/kg per dose) or vehicle, at 0 and 2 h after the end of hypoxia. Ipsilateral cortical, striatal, and hippocampal damage was quantitated either 5 d later, or at 5 wk after the insult. Treatment with BN 50730 resulted in approximately 60- 80% reduction in ipsilateral tissue loss at both times. Learning and memory were evaluated 5 wk after insult using the Morris Watermaze place navigation task. Severity of cortical and striatal damage correlated significantly with learning and memory deficits. These results support the hypothesis that PAF is a pathogenetic mediator of hypoxic-ischemic damage in the immature brain. Accumulating evidence suggests that PAF mediates its deleterious effects in the immature CNS via multiple mechanisms.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)804-811
    Number of pages8
    JournalPediatric Research
    Volume49
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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