Protective Effect of Ulinastatin on Cognitive Function After Hypoxia

This study aimed to assess whether UTI could preserve learning and memory using a zebrafish hypoxic behavior model and biomarkers. Zebrafish (6 –8 months of age and 2.5–3.5 cm long) were divided into eight groups as follows: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control, hypoxia + PBS, UTI (10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 units/kg), and hypoxia with UTI (10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 units/kg) groups. The endpoints of the T-maze experiment in cluded total time, distance moved, and frequency in target or opposite compartment. We also measured the degree of brain infarction using 2,3,5‑triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, assessed SA-β-galactosidase activity, and examined GABAA receptor expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction. In a dose-dependent manner, UTI affected learning and memory in zebrafish. Despite hypoxia, 100,000 units/kg of UTI preserved preference (time and distance) for the target compartment. More than 50,000 units/kg of UTI also showed reduced hypoxia-induced brain infarction, decreased SA- β-galactosidase levels, and upregulated GABAA receptors. This study demonstrated that the location of the GABAA receptor is affected by hypoxia or UTI.
Source: NeuroMolecular Medicine - Category: Neurology Source Type: research