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Seizures accelerate anoxia‐induced neuronal death in the neonatal rat hippocampus
Author(s) -
Dzhala Volodymyr,
BenAri Yehezkiel,
Khazipov Roustem
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/1531-8249(200010)48:4<632::aid-ana10>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , bicuculline , glutamate receptor , tetrodotoxin , premovement neuronal activity , depolarization , neuroscience , adenosine , hippocampus , medicine , caffeine , anesthesia , adenosine receptor , adenosine receptor antagonist , receptor , antagonist , pharmacology , biology , chemistry , agonist , organic chemistry , oxygen
Seizures occurring in infants with hypoxia are frequently associated with an ominous prognosis. There is, however, no direct evidence that seizures are involved in the pathogenesis of hypoxia‐induced neuronal damage. Here, we report that seizures significantly aggravate the hypoxic state by accelerating rapid anoxic depolarization (AD) and associated neuronal death in preparations of the intact hippocampus of neonatal rats in vitro. Under control conditions, prolonged episodes of anoxia/aglycemia induced rapid suppression of synaptic activity followed sequentially by brief bursts of epileptiform activity and then by rapid AD. AD was associated with irreversible neuronal damage manifested by irreversible loss of the membrane potential, synaptic responses, and neuronal degeneration. Aggravation of electrographic seizure activity during anoxic episodes by the adenosine A 1 receptor antagonists DPCPX and caffeine or the γ‐aminobutyric acid‐A receptor antagonist bicuculline or pretreatment with 4‐aminopyridine accelerated AD and associated neuronal death by up to twofold, whereas blockade of seizure activity by the glutamate receptor antagonists or tetrodotoxin significantly delayed the onset of AD. This report provides direct evidence for the need to prevent seizures during neonatal brain hypoxia. Ann Neurol 2000;48:632–640