Changes in excitatory amino acid levels and tissue energy metabolites of neonate rat brain after hypoxia and hypoxia-ischemia.

Lactate accumulation, amino acid aspartate and glutamate levels, and hypoxanthine, xanthine and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were compared in neonate rat brain after transient global hypoxia induced alone or in association with unilateral ligation of a carotid artery. Lactate production in both hemispheres was higher in cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (CHI) than in cerebral hypoxia (CH), and was lower in CHI after 2 h than at 15 min of recovery. Aspartate and glutamate levels were reduced 15 min after CHI in both hemispheres, but aspartate alone was decreased 2 h after CHI in the ipsilateral (left) hemisphere and 15 min after CH in both hemispheres. Hypoxanthine was increased 15 min after CHI in the ipsilateral hemisphere but decreased at 2 h, whereas xanthine was increased. MDA production was not modified after CH or CHI. These data, compared to those obtained in adult animals suggest that glutamate release and the capacity to generate oxygen-derived radicals are lower in neonates after ischemia. These differences might explain why the brain of the mammalian neonate is much more resistant to CH and CHI than that of the adult.