Effect of humic acid on oxidative stress and neuroprotection in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: part 1

Abstract

Background

Aimed to investigate in an animal model the efficacy of humic acid by showing its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effect comparing with the histopathological and neurological outcomes for the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Methods

28 Wistar-Albino rats who were on the 7th postnatal day and weighting between 9 and 19 g randomly divided into four groups with developed HIE model under the gas anesthesia. 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal HA were given to Group I and II respectively. Saline was given to Group III and the sham group was Group IV. The brain tissues were stained with cresyl-violet histochemistry for grading neuronal cell injury and caspase immunohistochemistry.

Results

The neuronal cell injury was statistically lower in all neuroanatomical lands in HA treatment groups. The degree of ischemia was significantly smaller in HA groups. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity was decreased in the HA groups compared with the saline group. When the groups were compared, there were no serious neuronal injury in Group I.

Conclusions

This is the first study which investigates the role of HA in HIE model. HA reduces apoptosis and neuronal injury in cerebral tissue of the rats. This findings suggest that HA may be viable protective agent against HIE.

Keywords:

• Hypoxic-Ischemic
• neonate
• apoptosis
• Humic acid

Acknowledgements

We want to thank Huseyin Candan (www.medicalstatistic.com) for statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Senem Alkan Ozdemir and Nail Ozdemir designed the study and wrote the manuscript.

Nail Ozdemir, Burak Kınalı and Ozgur Aksan designed the experimental model.

Erdener Ozer, Güven Erbil and Gökçen Bilici Güler evaluated the histopathological analysis.

Esra Ozer revised the manuscript.