Impaired SynGAP expression and long-term spatial learning and memory in hippocampal CA1 area from rats previously exposed to perinatal hypoxia-induced insults: beneficial effects of A68930

Neurosci Lett. 2004 Nov 16;371(1):73-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.08.044.

Abstract

Hypoxic encephalopathy is a common cause of neonatal seizures and long-term neurological cognitive deficits. In rats at postnatal days 10-12 (P10-P12), global hypoxia induced spontaneous seizures and chronic brain injury, mimicking clinical aspects of neonatal hypoxia. Synaptic Ras-GTPase activating protein (SynGAP) has important roles in RAS/MAPK-dependent synaptic plasticity and mammalian learning. We investigated possible alterations of SynGAP expression occurring in memory-impaired animals previously exposed to perinatal hypoxia insults. We also evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of A68930, a selective agonist of dopamine D1/D5 receptors, on perinatal hypoxia insults. In the hippocampal CA1 region, perinatal hypoxia insults (P10) led to a reduction in SynGAP expression associated with impairment in long-term spatial learning and memory performance at P45. The use of A68930 (at a dose of 1, 2, 3mg/kg, P17-P23) effectively attenuated the deleterious effects as described above. Our results may indicate the involvement of SynGAP in certain forms of brain injury, leading to long-term learning and memory deficits. A68930 may have clinical potential as a therapeutic agent for alleviation of long-term cognitive deficits in rats and other animal models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asphyxia Neonatorum / drug therapy
  • Asphyxia Neonatorum / physiopathology
  • Chromans / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia, Brain / drug therapy*
  • Hypoxia, Brain / physiopathology*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Maze Learning
  • Memory / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Space Perception / physiology

Substances

  • Chromans
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Syngap1 protein, rat
  • A 68930