Spectrum of Short- and Long-Term Brain Pathology and Long-Term Behavioral Deficits in Male Repeated Hypoxic Rats Closely Resembling Human Extreme Prematurity

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0342-12.2013
• Publication Date: 2013-07-17T16:34:14Z
• Authors: D. E. Oorschot; L. Voss; M. V. Covey; L. Goddard; W. Huang; P. Birchall; D. K. Bilkey; S. E. Kohe
• Keywords: Hypoxia; Brain damage

Brain injury in the premature infant is associated with a high risk of neurodevelopmental disability. Previous small-animal models brain attributable to extreme prematurity typically fail generate spectrum pathology and behavior that closely resembles observed humans, although they provide initial answers numerous cellular, molecular, therapeutic questions. We tested hypothesis exposure rats repeated hypoxia from postnatal day 1 (P1) P3 characteristic white matter neuropathological injury, gray volume loss, memory deficits seen children born extremely prematurely. Male Sprague Dawley were exposed or normoxia P1 P3. The absolute number pre-oligodendrocytes mature oligodendrocytes, surface area <i>g</i>-ratio myelin, cerebral matter, neurons quantified stereologically. Spatial was investigated on radial arm maze. Rats had significant loss (1) at P4, (2) myelin P14, (3) cortical striatal without neuronal (4) adulthood. Decreased correlated increased attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-like hyperactivity. This new model generates short- long-term humans. rat provides clinically relevant tool investigate questions prematurity.