Carbon monoxide effect in hippocampus after perinatal hypoxia-ischemia – apoptotic profiles.

<p>Whereas contralateral hippocampus displayed a preserved morphology (<b>A</b>) following HI, diffuse tissue disruption was detected in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the occlusion (<b>B</b>). C–E are representative pictures of ischemic hippocampus, where diffuse apoptosis was documented; with peculiar morphological features including pyknotic nuclei (<b>C</b>), indicating early stage of apoptosis, progressive nuclear fragmentation (<b>D</b>) and karyorrhexis as confirmed by detectable apoptotic bodies (<b>E</b>). Compared to HI group, the number of apoptotic profiles was significantly lower when animals were exposed to CO prior to HI (<b>F</b>). All values are mean ± SD (error bars); *<i>p</i><0.05 compared to Control group for the corresponding side and **<i>p</i><0.05 compared to HI group ischemic hippocampus. (<b>G</b>) For each group there is no significant difference in cytotoxic edema volume (mm³) between the ipsi- and the contralateral hippocampus.