ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to prepare a hypoxic brain damage model in the neonatal rat using a new approach, 0% oxygen exposure, and to explore the reliability and advantages of the new model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven-day-old Wistar rats were randomly exposed to either 7 minutes of 0% oxygen, to the conventional Rice-Vannucci method (ischemia + 2 hrs hypoxia exposure), or to left common carotid artery ligation (ischemia). Rat pups which were not subjected to any hypoxia-ischemia treatment were used as the control group. Brain water content and neuronal apoptosis were measured. Neurofunctional assessment was performed. Brain pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The water content (88.96+/-0.29%) and apoptosis of neurons (31.52+/-5.45%) of the left brain in the 0% oxygen group were significantly higher than those of the ischemic and the control groups (P<0.01), and similar to those in the Rice-Vannucci group. The water content (88.68+/-0.24%) and apoptosis of neurons (30.85+/-5.38%) of the right brain in the 0% oxygen group were significantly higher than those of the Rice-Vannucci, the ischemic and the control groups (P<0.01). Both side brains of the 0% oxygen group showed pathological injuries, but only left brain of the Rice-Vannucci group had pathological changes. No pathological abnormalities were seen in the ischemic and the control groups. Significant neurofunctional impairments were found in the 0% oxygen and the Rice-Vannucci groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A hypoxic brain damage model of neonatal rat was successfully prepared using 7 minutes 0% oxygen exposure. The new approach appears to be simple and reliable.</p>