ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether exogenic brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can permeate placental barrier into fetus and further through fetal blood brain barrier(BBB) after transient ischemia. Methods Seventeen day pregnant rats were selected. The uterine arteries of the rats were clamped for 30 minutes in experimental group. BDNF labeled with 125 I was injected into the rats through caudal veins. The radioactivity of BDNF in different fetal organs was measured at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Results 125 I BDNF was detected in amniotic fluid, placenta and fetal organs including brain, heart, lung, liver and kidney. This indicated that BDNF partly permeated placental barrier. The permeability of BDNF through placenta barrier and fetal BBB increased with the increased dose injected. BDNF reached the fetal brain through BBB under hypoxia eschemia condition. The rates of penetration of BDNF through placental barrier and BBB increased under the condition of fetal ischemia and hypoxia. Conclusions Exogenic BDNF may partly go through placental barrier and BBB into fetal brain, which makes it possible for BDNF to be a treatment for fetus suffered from ischemia and hypoxia.