Moderate hypothermia post hypoxia-ischemia improves the cerebral energy metabolism in the immature rats / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To study the effect of moderate hypothermia on immature rats with hypoxic-ischimic brain damage (HIBD). METHODS: The rats with HIBD were divided into normothermic recovered group (IN) and moderate-hypothermic recovered group (IH). Sham-operated rat pups were normothermic control group (NC) and moderate-hypothermic control group (HC). 0, 2, 6, 24, 48, 72 h after the end of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) insult, the brain was homogenized for measuring glucose and ATP, brain mitochondria was extracted for SDH activity, complex II activity and the capacity of ATP synthesization. RESULTS: In IN group, the brain glucose was significantly lower at 0 h, and recovered as normal at 2 h. The brain ATP and brain-mitochondrial SDH activities were firstly decreased at 2 h, 6 h and then recovered gradually, it was at it's peak value at 72 h. Brain-mitochondrial complex II activity and the capacity of ATP synthesis were recovered at 2 h, but they decreased again at 6 h and came to normal level at 72 h. In moderate-hypothermic group, all the indexes were significantly higher at all the time point than that in IN groups. CONCLUSION: Moderate hypothermia inhibits the decrease in the mitochondrial SDH activity, mitochondrial complex II activity and the capacity of ATP synthesis, increases the brain ATP concentration, improves the energy metabolism, and then protects the brain tissue. [