STRIATAL CYTOMEGALIC NEURONS CONTAINING NITRIC-OXIDE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EXPERIMENTAL PERINATAL ASPHYXIA - IMPLICATION OF COLD TREATMENT

Neuropathological mechanisms triggered by excitatory aminoacids are kn own to involve nitric oxide (NO). Neurons containing NO are histochemi cally reactive to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphora se (NADPH-d), which labels NO synthase in CNS. Sprague-Dawley male rat s subjected to perinatal asphyxia (PA) at 37 degrees C, and PA plus 15 degrees C hypothermia were evaluated when 6 months old by NADPH-d his tochemical reaction. Computarized image analysis was used for quantifi cation of stained sections. NADPH-d neurons in striatum from subsevere and severe PA showed a significant increment in soma size and dendrit ic process length versus control and hypothermic treated rats. Post-is chemic damage neurons are therefore involved in NO changes induced by PA that may be prevented by hypothermia treatment.