The Effect of Sulphoraphane on Brain Glucose Uptake during Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in Newborn Rats

Abstract

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HII) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns. It has long-term consequences and represents a socioeconomic burden. It is an urgent issue in current neonatology. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the possible effect of sulforaphane on brain glucose uptake expressed as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) activity at the acute, subacute, and subchronic time intervals after the experimental perinatal HII in rats. Significant protection has been observed in the hippocampus 5 weeks after the insult as represented by normalisations of interhemispheric ratio of measured 18F-FDG activity. In conclusion, positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-FDG revealed a protective effect of SFN on glucose metabolism in the subchronic phase after HII. Further research within the field of neonatal HII in newborn rats will be necessary.