Blockade of gap junctions in vivo provides neuroprotection after perinatal global ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We investigated the contribution of gap junctions to brain damage and delayed neuronal death produced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). METHODS Histopathology, molecular biology, and electrophysiological and fluorescence cell death assays in slice cultures after OGD and in developing rats after intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia (HI). RESULTS OGD persistently increased gap junction coupling and strongly activated the apoptosis marker caspase-3 in slice cultures. The gap junction blocker carbenoxolone applied to hippocampal slice cultures before, during, or 60 minutes after OGD markedly reduced delayed neuronal death. Administration of carbenoxolone to ischemic pups immediately after intrauterine HI prevented caspase-3 activation and dramatically reduced long-term neuronal damage. CONCLUSIONS Gap junction blockade may be a useful therapeutic tool to minimize brain damage produced by perinatal and early postnatal HI.