Effect of acute neonatal hypoxia on the brainstem catecholamine levels in young rats

Fetalna hipoksija je stanje koje karakterizira smanjena koncentracija kisika važnog za normalnu fiziološku funkciju tkiva te normalan razvoj fetusa. Posljedice smanjene koncentracije kisika očituju se kroz razne neurološke poremećaje kao što su motoričke smetnje, autonomna disfunkcija, epilepsija, poremećaj pamćenja i pažnje. S obzirom na ulogu katekolamina u regulaciji adaptivnih ponašanja svojstvenih svim sisavcima, dopaminergički i noradrenergički neuronski krugovi mogli bi predstavljati mehanizam kojim hipoksija utječe na spomenute neurološke poremećaje. Cilj ovog rada jest analizirati utjecaj neonatalne izloženosti štakora kratkotrajnoj akutnoj hipoksiji na koncentraciju katekolamina u moždanom deblu u adolescentnoj dobi. Koncentracija katekolamina je određena pomoću komercijalnog kompleta enzimskog imunotesta na čvrstoj fazi (engl. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, ELISA). Životinje iz hipoksične skupine imale su značajno povišenu koncentraciju dopamina u moždanom deblu, dok se koncentracija noradrenalina nije promijenila u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da neonatalna izloženost blagoj prolaznoj hipoksiji dugoročno narušava homeostazu dopamina.Fetal hypoxia is a condition characterized by a reduced concentration of oxygen essential for normal physiological tissue function and normal fetal development. The consequences of the decreased oxygen supply are manifested through various neurological disorders such as motor disorders, autonomic dysfunction, epilepsy, memory, and attention disorders. Knowing the role of catecholamines in the inherited adaptive behavioural regulations of all mammals, dopaminergic and noradrenergic neuronal pathways could represent the mechanism by which hypoxia affects the aforementioned neurological disorders. This study aimed to analyze the effect of neonatal exposure to short-term acute hypoxia on the brainstem catecholamine levels in young rats. Catecholamine concentration has been determined using a commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, ELISA kit. Animals in the hypoxic group had significantly increased concentrations of the brainstem dopamine, while the concentration of norepinephrine did not change compared to the control group. The results of the research show that neonatal exposure to mild transient hypoxia leads to a long-lasting disruption of dopamine homeostasis