Combined Use of Magnesium Sulfate and Fingolimod for Antenatal Neuroprotection against Inflammation-Mediated Experimental Preterm Brain Injury in a Rat Model

Abstract

Background

We compared the neuroprotective effects of Fingolimod (fng), a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory drug, with that of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), alone and in combination, in fetal rat whose mothers were exposed to endotoxin.

Method

Seven groups of pregnant rats (28 total) were evaluated at 0.8 gestation – Group1 – saline only; 2 – endotoxin only; 3 – endotoxin + MgSO4; 4 – endotoxin + fng; 5 – endotoxin + MgSO4 + fng; 6 – saline + fng; 7 – saline + MgSO4 + fng. Preterm labor was induced 4 h after intraperitoneal endotoxin administration. Fetal brain samples were examined immunohistochemically using S100β, IL-6, and IL-10.

Results

Endotoxin caused increased expression of S100β, IL-6, and IL-10. Compared with MgSO4 alone, combined treatment was associated with lower expression of IL-10, IL-6 and S100 β.

Conclusion

Fng decreases inflammatory markers after in-utero exposure to endotoxin, has a synergistic effect combined with MgSO4, and may be a candidate neuroprotective drug for inflammation-induced preterm brain injury.

Keywords:

• Fingolimod
• inflammation
• magnesium sulfate
• prenatal
• neuroprotection

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared that they have no potential conflicts of interest related to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Suleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (grant no, 4942-TU2-17).