Melatonin alleviates brain and peripheral tissue edema in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage: the involvement of edema related proteins

BMC Pediatrics

Research Article

Xin Ding¹  Ying Wang¹  Ming-Hua Liu¹  Xing Han¹  Bin Sun¹  Xing Feng¹  Yuan Lv²  Yan-Hong Li³  Li-Xiao Xu³ 

[1] Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China;Department of Neonatology, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital, 225001, Yangzhou, China;Institute of Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, 215006, Suzhou, China;

关键词: Melatonin;    Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy;    Edema;    Aquaporin-4;    Zonula occludens-1;    Occludin;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12887-017-0824-x

 received in 2015-10-30, accepted in 2017-03-02,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPrevious studies have indicated edema may be involved in the pathophysiology following hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and melatonin may exhibit neuro-protection against brain insults. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms that involve the protective effects of melatonin in the brain and peripheral tissues after HIE. The present study aimed to examine the effects of melatonin on multiple organs, and the expression of edema related proteins in a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).MethodsOne hundred ninety-two neonatal rats were randomly divided into three subgroups that underwent a sham surgery or HIBD. After the HIBD or sham-injury, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of melatonin or an equal volume vehicle, respectively. We investigated the effects of melatonin on brain, kidney, and colon edema via histological examination and the expression of edema related proteins, including AQP-4, ZO-1 and occludin, via qPCR and western blot.ResultsOur data indicated (1) Melatonin reduced the histological injury in the brain and peripheral organs induced by HIBD as assessed via H-E staining and transmission electron microscopy. (2) Melatonin alleviated the HIBD-induced cerebral edema characterized by increased brain water content. (3) HIBD induced significant changes of edema related proteins, such as AQP-4, ZO-1 and occludin, and these changes were partially reversed by melatonin treatment.ConclusionsThese findings provide substantial evidence that melatonin treatment has protective effects on the brain and peripheral organs after HIBD, and the edema related proteins, AQP4, ZO-1, and occludin, may indirectly contribute tothe mechanism of the edema protection by melatonin.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017