The neuroprotective effect of deferoxamine in the hypoxic-ischemic immature mouse brain

The iron chelator deferoxamine is efficacious in ameliorating hypoxic-ische mic brain injury in some models, perhaps by decreasing oxidative stress. Tr ansgenic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) overexpression in neonat al mice increases brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia compared to non-trans genic wildtype littermates because of increased oxidative stress. A neonata l mouse model of hypoxia-ischemia was used to examine histopathological dam age, iron histochemistry and free iron concentration in the brains of SOD1 transgenic and non-transgenic littermates. Deferoxamine significantly decre ased injury in non-transgenics compared to controls with a trend toward neu roprotection in the transgenics, There was no difference in free iron conce ntrations in the brains of SOD1 overexpressors or non-transgenics. Deferoxa mine may protect the neonatal brain by a number of anti-oxidant mechanisms including iron chelation, enhancement of stress gene expression, or inducti on of other factors responsible for neuroprotection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd. Ail rights reserved.