NEURONAL RESCUE WITH TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-BETA(1) AFTER HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC BRAIN INJURY

Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) mRNA is induced from 5 h to 3 days following hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. Cell death als o develops during this time suggesting that extracellular accumulation of this peptide may be involved in the processes that regulate cell l oss. We examined the effect of rhTGF-beta(1), (0, 2.5, 10, 50 ng) inje cted into the cerebral lateral ventricle of rats 2 h after severe hypo xic-ischaemic brain injury. Histological outcome and B-4-isolectin his tochemistry were assessed 5 and 2 days, respectively following hypoxia . Treatment with 10 ng TGF-beta(1) reduced the microglia reaction (p<0 .05), the magnitude of neuronal loss (p<0.01) and the area of cortical infarction (p<0.05). Exogenous TGF-beta(1) given soon after hypoxic-i schaemic brain injury may have therapeutic potential and act by inhibi ting the microglial reaction.