EFFECT OF RESCUE AND PROPHYLAXIS WITH L-ARGININE ON APOPTOSIS IN NEONATAL RATS

¹Yıldız Atalay, ²Canan T��rkyılmaz, ³Zafer T��rkyılmaz, ⁴Figen Söylemezoğlu, ¹ Esin Koç, ¹ Ebru Ergenekon

Departments of Pediatric Surgery³, Neonatology Unit¹, Medical Faculty, Gazi University, Neonatology Unit², Doctor Sami Ulus Children Hospital, Department of Pathology⁴, Hacettepe University Ankara, T��rkey

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the pre and post treatment of nitric oxide precursor,L-arginine on neuronal apoptosis in hypoxia-ischemia neonatal rat model.

Methods: Seven-day-old rats were administered L-arginine intraperitoneally before and after hypoxic ischemia inflicted through right carotid artery ligation and then exposed to %8 oxygen.Neuronal apoptosis was shown by Tunnel method after three-day recovery.

Results: Right hippocampal and striatal apoptosis percentages in L-arginine post-treated group were significantly lower than those of vehicle groups,but no change was found in cortex.L-arginine pre-treatment was found to have no effect on neuronal apoptosis in the three brain regions.

Conclusion: Nitric oxide may play an important,time dependent dual role in neuronal apoptosis in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.Pre-treatment of L-arginine,as an NO precursor has not been proven to reduce neuronal apoptosis,while early treatment after hypoxic ischemia has antiapoptotic effect on neurons in neonatal rat model.

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