Neuroprotective Effect of 8-OH-DPAT on Long-term Sequelae from Prenatal Ischemia in Rats

Abstract

The role of 5-hydroxyptamine (5-HT)_(1A) receptor activity in prenatal ischemia was studied, by injecting 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetraline (8-OH-DPAT; 50㎍/㎏, s.c.) a 5-HT_(1A) agonist on gestation day 17, and 30 min later inducing transient ischemia by ligating the uterine vessels for 30 min. On postnatal day 95, rats that had experienced prenatal ischemia showed impaired motor coordination and reduced concentrarion of 5-HT_(1A) in the cerebellum compared with Sham-operated control. In addition, they showed increased 50HT_(1A) receptor densities in the cerebral cortex. Pretreatment with 8-OH-DPAT ameliorated the behavioral and neurochemical sequelae measured in the present study. The results suggest that 5-HT_(1A) receptors protect the brain from ischemic insult and/or facilitate recovery after prenatally experienced ischemia.