Short-term dose-response characteristics of 2-iminobiotin immediately postinsult in the neonatal piglet after hypoxia-ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To determine the optimal dose of 2-iminobiotin (2-IB) for the treatment of moderate to severe asphyxia in a neonatal piglet model of hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS Newborn piglets were subjected to a 30-minute hypoxia-ischemia insult and randomly treated with vehicle or 2-IB (0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, or 1.0 mg/kg). aEEG background and seizure activity were scored after hypoxia-ischemia every 4 h until 24 h and at 48 h and neurobehavioral scores were obtained. Brain tissue was collected and processed for analysis of caspase-3 activity, histology, and tyrosine nitration. RESULTS A dose range of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/kg/dose of 2-IB improved short-term outcome as demonstrated by an increased survival with a normal aEEG and decreased nitrotyrosine staining in the 2-IB-treated animals, indicating decreased cellular damage. Neurobehavior, caspase-3 activity in thalamus, and histology scores were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS Based on survival with a normal aEEG, 0.2 mg/kg 2-IB is likely to be the most appropriate dose for use in future clinical trials in neonates with perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.