Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids mitigate blood-brain barrier disruption after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

ABSTRACT: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been shown to protect the neonatal brain against hypoxic/ischemic (H/I) injury. However, the mechanism of n-3 PUFA-afforded neuroprotection is not well understood. One major determinant of H/I vulnerability is the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, we examined the effects of n-3 PUFAs on BBB integrity after neonatal H/I. Female rats were fed a diet with or without n-3 PUFA enrichment from day 2 of pregnancy to 14days after parturition. H/I was introduced in 7day-old offspring. We observed relatively rapid BBB penetration of the small molecule cadaverine (640Da) at 4h post-H/I and a delayed penetration of larger dextrans (3kD-40kD) 24-48h after injury. Surprisingly, the neonatal BBB was impermeable to Evans Blue or

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4860066 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature