Neonatal encephalopathy resulting from HI (hypoxia–ischaemia) continues to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in infants and children, affecting 1–2/1000 live term births and up to 60% of pre-term births. In order to understand the pathophysiology of this insult, as well as design therapeutic interventions, it is important to establish a relevant animal model for pre-clinical studies. One of the most frequently used models of HI-induced brain damage in immature animals is the unilateral carotid ligation/hypoxia model, initially developed in our laboratory more than 30 years ago. The original model employed the postnatal day 7 rat, whose brain is representative of that of a late gestation, pre-term [32–36 weeks GA (gestational age)] human infant. We, and others, have employed this model to characterize the pathophysiological, biochemical/energetic and neuropathological events following HI, as well as the determination of the unique characteristics of the immature brain that define its vulnerability to, and outcome from, HI. In defining the cascade of events following HI, it has become possible to identify potential targets for intervention and neuroprotection. Currently, the only available therapeutic intervention for neonatal encephalopathy in the term asphyxiated infant is therapeutic hypothermia, although this must be initiated within 6 h of birth and is at best partially effective in moderately injured infants. Ongoing pre-clinical studies are necessary to determine the basis for the partial protection afforded by hypothermia as well as the design of adjunct therapies to improve the outcome. The present review highlights the importance of using a well-characterized and relevant animal model to continue to pursue translational research in neuroprotection for the infant brain.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2014
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
March 20 2014
Neonatal encephalopathy: pre-clinical studies in neuroprotection
Shyama D. Patel;
Shyama D. Patel
*Department of Pediatrics/Newborn Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10025, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Leslie Pierce;
Leslie Pierce
*Department of Pediatrics/Newborn Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10025, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Amber J. Ciardiello;
Amber J. Ciardiello
*Department of Pediatrics/Newborn Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10025, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Susan J. Vannucci
Susan J. Vannucci
1
*Department of Pediatrics/Newborn Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10025, U.S.A.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailsuv2003@med.cornell.edu).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
October 23 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Biochem Soc Trans (2014) 42 (2): 564–568.
Article history
Received:
October 23 2013
Citation
Shyama D. Patel, Leslie Pierce, Amber J. Ciardiello, Susan J. Vannucci; Neonatal encephalopathy: pre-clinical studies in neuroprotection. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2014; 42 (2): 564–568. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130247
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.