Regional differences in asphyxia- and reperfusion-induced cytotoxic and vasogenic brain edema formation in newborn pigs

Abstract

Neonatal asphyxia may induce brain injuries. Development of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema was measured in frontal, parietal, occipital cortex, hippocampus, striatum, thalamus, internal capsule, cerebellum, pons, and medulla of newborn pigs in the following groups: control, asphyxia, and 3-h reperfusion. Water content was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in parietal cortex and hippocampus during asphyxia, and in cortical regions, hippocampus, and striatum during recovery. Asphyxia-reperfusion resulted in increased Na+ and Ca2+-, but decreased K+-concentrations in several brain regions. Blood-brain barrier permeability for sodium fluorescein (mw: 376) was significantly increased in all regions but internal capsule and medulla in asphyxia, and in each region during reperfusion. Evan's blue-albumin (mw: 67,000) efflux was unchanged in asphyxia, but significantly increased after reperfusion in all regions. Increased permeability was also demonstrated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Edema formation in the early postasphyxial period in porcine brain corresponded to the specific patterns of cerebral damage in human neonates.