Endothelin receptor-A (ETa) inhibition fails to improve neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in rats

Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2011:111:207-12. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0693-8_35.

Abstract

Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is an important cause of mortality and disability in newborns. It is a result of insufficient oxygen and glucose circulation to the brain, initiating long-term cerebral damage and cell death. Emerging evidence suggests that endothelin receptor-A (ETA) activation can play an important role in mediating brain damage. In this study, we investigated the role of ETA receptor inhibition using ABT-627 in neonatal HI injured rats. Postnatal day 10 Sprague-Dawley rat pups (n=91) were assigned to the following groups: sham (n=28), HI (vehicle, n=32), and HI with ABT-627 at 3 mg/kg (n=31). The Rice-Vannucci model was used to induce ischemia by ligating the right common carotid artery, followed by a 2 h hypoxic episode using 8% oxygen in a 37°C chamber. Postoperative assessment was conducted at 48 h after injury and again at 4 weeks. At the acute time point, investigative markers included cerebral edema, infarction volume, and body weight change. Neurobehavioral testing was measured at 4 weeks post-injury. Our findings indicated that ABT-627 had no effect on the measured parameters. This study suggests that ETA receptor blockade using ABT-627 post-treatment fails to improve neurological outcomes in neonatal HI injured rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Atrasentan
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / prevention & control
  • Brain Infarction / etiology
  • Brain Infarction / prevention & control
  • Brain Injuries / drug therapy
  • Brain Injuries / etiology*
  • Brain Injuries / metabolism*
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / complications*
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects
  • Pyrrolidines / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Endothelin A / metabolism*
  • Tetrazolium Salts

Substances

  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Receptor, Endothelin A
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • triphenyltetrazolium
  • Atrasentan