Long-term effects of prenatal allopurinol treatment on brain plasticity markers in low and normal birth weight piglets

Jos Prickaerts; Elise T Gieling; Ann K Bruder; Franz J van der Staay; Tim Vanmierlo

doi:10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.11.001

Long-term effects of prenatal allopurinol treatment on brain plasticity markers in low and normal birth weight piglets

Int J Dev Neurosci. 2014 Apr:33:29-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Authors

Jos Prickaerts¹, Elise T Gieling², Ann K Bruder¹, Franz J van der Staay², Tim Vanmierlo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Science, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.
² Emotion & Cognition Group, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Utrecht, P.O. Box 80151, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Science, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229ER Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: tim.vanmierlo@uhasselt.be.

PMID: 24291206
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2013.11.001

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of antenatal allopurinol (ALLO) treatment on levels and expression of plasticity markers in the dorsal hippocampus of low (LBW) and normal (NBW) birth weight piglets. ALLO treatment given daily in the last trimester to pregnant sows had a protective effect on neuronal plasticity markers in their piglets. ALLO increases protein levels of BDNF and the postsynaptic marker PSD95 in LBW and NBW piglets. ALLO treatment increases the pCREB/CREB ratio in LBW piglets to a similar level as that found in untreated NBW piglets. In conclusion, antioxidant treatment administered in the last trimester might be a promising treatment for LBW neonates.

Keywords: Allopurinol; BDNF; Low birth weight; Neuronal plasticity; Pig.

MeSH terms

Allopurinol / toxicity*
Animals
Brain / drug effects
Brain / metabolism*
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
CREB-Binding Protein / metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
Female
Free Radical Scavengers / toxicity*
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
Infant, Low Birth Weight*
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
Membrane Proteins / metabolism
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced*
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / pathology*
Swine

Substances

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein
Dlg4 protein, rat
Free Radical Scavengers
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Membrane Proteins
Allopurinol
CREB-Binding Protein