Acetylcholine receptor agonist reduces brain damage induced by hypoxia-ischemia in newborn rats

Objective: The newborn rat model has been developed to elucidate the mechanism and management of perinatal brain damage. Our study hypothesis is that an acetylcholine receptor agonist (carbachol) reduces hypoxia-ischemia (HI)-induced brain damage in a well-established newborn rat model. Study design: 7-day-old Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups at random: carbachol preinjection and HI (Carb/HI), saline preinjection and HI (Saline/HI), and only HI (HI). Rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by 2 hours of hypoxia (8 % oxygen). We injected carbachol or saline before hypoxic loading. After 7 days, we checked for brain damage. Results: In the cerebral cortex, 25 % of the Carb/HI group showed mild neural damage, and the remaining 75 % showed no damage. In contrast, more than 80 % of the Saline/HI and HI groups had severe neural damage. Similarly, neural damage significantly decreased in Carb/HI compared with Saline/HI and HI for CA1, CA2, CA3, and the dentate gyrus of hippocampal regions.Conclusion: Acetylcholine receptor agonist has a potent effect by reducing perinatal brain damage induced by HI in newborn rats