Behavioral performance of rats following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

Abstract

The behavioral performance of rats subjected In the neonatal period to hypoxia-ischemia at either 37°C or 21°C was compared to that of sham-ligated animals. Performance on complex motor tests was significantly delayed only in the hypoxic-lschemlc 37°C rats. However, cognitive testing disclosed significant delay of spatial learning In animals subjected to hypoxia-ischemia at 21°C and those with gross infarction at 37°C. There was enhanced avoidance learning in the animals with gross infarction in the hypoxia-ischemia 37°C group. Hypoxk-ischemic damage in the neonatal rat at 37°C results in transient delay of complex motor skills, but longer lasting cognitive changes. Hypoxia-ischemia during hypothermia produces no motor deficits, although there may be similar alterations in learning. © 1986 American Heart Association, Inc.