All issues > Volume 37(8); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(8):1035-1047. Published online August 15, 1994.

Effect of Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia on Preventing Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage by Dexamethasone in Neonatal Rat

Kook In KI Park¹, Tae Seung TS Kim², Min Soo MS Park¹, Moon Sung MS Park¹, Ran R Namgung¹, Chul C Lee¹, Dong Gwan DG Han¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Anatomic Pathology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: We evaluated the protective effect of dexamethasone (DX) administration on brain damage produced in a perinatal model of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia in the rat. Since hyperglycemia has been shown to reduce hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HI) in immature rat, we investigated the role of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia in the neuroprotective mechanism of DX.
Methods
: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in 7-day-old rats was induced by right common carotid artery occlusion and 2 hours of 8% oxygen. Pups received 3 doses of DX (0.5 mg/kg/d intraperitoneally) 48 hours, 24 hours and immediately before HI (Dx1)(n=12), a single dose of DX 24 hours (DX2)(n=16), 3 hours (DX3)(n=10) or immediately before HI(DX4)(n=14), a single dose of DX immediately after HI(DX5)(n=9), 3 doses of DX immediately, 24 hours and 48 hours after HI (DX6)(n=14) and a single dose of DX 24 hours before HI with insulin (0.5 U/kg, subcutaneously, 1.5 hours before (HI)(IN) (n=8). Control pups (n=15) received a single dose of normal saline 24 hours before HI. Blood glucose was estimated before hypoxia, 1 hour and 2 hours after hypoxia using glucometer in DX 1~4. IN and control rats. Pups were kolled at 14 days of age for determination of mortality during HI, gross ceregral infarction and right cerebral hemisphere atrophy. We measured the diameter of ech cerebral hemisphere and cortical thickness from a coronal section at the dorsal hippocampus level, and expressed the % atrophy from the change in the right vs left hemisphere diameter.
Results
: The mortaility that occurred during and after HI was similar in all groups. The incidence of gross cerebral infarction was 0.0%, 0.0%, 75.0%, 83.3%, 87.5%, and 90.0% in DX 1~6, respectively, 0.0% in IN, and 100.0% in control group. There was significant difference (p<0.001) in the incidence of gross cerebral infarction of DX1, Dx2, In vs control group. The mean % atrophy was 5.4¡¾2.2, 4.9¡¾1.8, 21.7¡¾8.1, 29.7¡¾5.0, 37.4¡¾5.5, 33.4¡¾9.3 in DX 1~6, respectively, 1.5¡¾1.1 in IN, and 29.1¡¾3.4 (mean¡¾SEM) in control group. There was a significant difference in % atrophy of DX1, DX2, IN vs control group. Before hypoxia, there was no significant difference in blood glucose between saline, all DX, and DX with insulin treated groups. But after hypoxia, pups in DX1 and DX2 were more hyperglycemic compared to DX 3~4, IN, or saline treated groups.
Conclusion
: Dexamethasone administration in the neonatal period protects the brain during the subsequent periods of hypoxia-ischemia in rats and glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia does not explain the neuroprotective effects dexamethasone.

Keywords :Dexamethasone, Glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia, Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, Newborn rat