Magnesium sulphate induces preconditioning in preterm rodent models of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia

Brain injury in preterm infants represents a substantial clinical problem associated with development of motor impairment, cognitive deficits and psychiatric problems. According to clinical studies, magnesium sulphate (MgSOPostnatal day 4 Wistar rats were exposed to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by 60, 70 or 80 min of hypoxia (8% OIn rats, a 60 min period of hypoxia resulted in very few animals with brain injury and although 70 min of hypoxia resulted in a higher percentage of injured animals, the brains were marginally damaged. An 80 min exposure of hypoxia caused cortical tissue damage combined with hippocampal atrophy and neuronal loss in the C3 hippocampal layer. In the rat model, MgSOWe have established a postnatal day 4 rat model of HI for the study of preterm brain injury. MgSO