Brain prostaglandins in experimental perinatal asphyxia / by Leonard Gregory Allen.
| Author/creator | Allen, Leonard Gregory author. |
| Other author | Louis, Thomas, degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1980. |
| Description | vi, 85 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of asphyxia on brain levels of Prostaglandins E₂ and F₂-alpha in the two day old guinea pig. Animals were pretreated with either saline or indomethacin (a potent prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor) prior to asphyxiation in a nitrogen atmosphere. Following asphyxiation, animals were either killed immediately without being allowed to breathe or were resuscitated and killed fifteen minutes after resuscitation. Brains were quickly removed, frozen and stored for assay of prostaglandins by radioimmunoassay. Results showed that brain levels of PGF₂-alpha were not altered by asphyxia alone, but that resuscitation after asphyxia caused a significant rise in brain PGF₂-alpha levels. Prostaglandin E₂ data showed that the longer period of asphyxia (3 min. 40 sec.) caused a rise in brain PGE₂ above control levels. Following resuscitation, however, brain PGE₂ levels were not different from control levels. Indomethacin pretreatment lowered brain levels of both prostaglandins below levels of non-asphyxiated control animals and prevented any asphyxia induced rise in brain prostaglandin levels. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by indomethacin was found to have no effect on several survival parameters (time to primary apnea, time to last gasp, survival following asphyxiation, and time to righting), but it was apparent from a small study that indomethacin pretreated animals initiate gasping sooner following asphyxia than do saline pretreated animalss From these results, we speculate that a rise in brain PGF₂-alpha levels following asphyxia and resuscitation may be detrimental to the animal by limiting cerebral blood flow through its actions as a cerebral vasoconstrictor. |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Thomas M. Louis |
| Dissertation note | M.A. East Carolina University |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-85). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Joyner | Microforms | MICROFILM* | ✔ Available | |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |