Brain fatty acids in perinatal asphyxia

In hypoxic or ischemic states the release of fatty acids is proposed to hav e several harmful effects on brain structure and function. We therefore dec ided to study brain FFA in a simple, clinically related animal model resemb ling intrauterine perinatal asphyxia (PA). Cerebral blood flow (CBF), brain fatty acids (C14:0, C16:1, C16:0, C18:1, C18:0, Sigma C), plasma glucose, lactate, beta -hydroxybutyrate (beta -OHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEF A) and insulin were determined in PA and compared to the normoxic state. Br ain C 14:0 FFA were not significantly different from normoxic rats. Brain F FA C 16:0 were comparable between groups but significantly decreased at 20 min of PA. C 18:0 FFA showed a trend to increase with the length of PA reac hing significance at 10 min of asphyxia only and were declining at 20 min, however, not significantly. Brain C 16:1 and C 18:1 FFA concentrations were comparable between groups, The parameters cerebral blood flow, glucose and lactate showed a stepwise and significant increase with the length of PA, whereas P-HOB,NEFA and insulin showed no changes. CBF, glucose and lactate showed a strong association whereas other parameters failed to correlate wi th each other. Only inconsistent trends of increased brain FFA were found a nd the association between brain glucose and brain FFA could be ruled out. Although CBF was manifold and significantly elevated in PA, brain FFA patte rn suggests that the increase of CBF is obviously not mediated by brain FFA . We conclude that FFA may not be involved in the early phase-pathogenesis of PA. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.