%0 Journal Article %T Allopurinol¡¯s effect on caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity in hypoxic-ischemic newborn rats %A Kenan £¿zcan %A Mehmet Satar %A Necmiye Canacankatan %A Erdal Ta£¿k£¿n %J Turk Pediatri Ar£¿ivi %D 2013 %I Galenos Yayincilik %X Aim: During reperfusion period of hypoxia-ischemia, cyclooxygenase and xanthine oxidase pathways are induced. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol has been shown to be neuroprotective in hypoxic- ischemic encephalopathy. Caspase-8 and caspase-3 have a key role in neuronal apoptosis. We aimed to test repeated doses of allopurinol¡¯s effect on caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities in newborn rats with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Material and Method: Seven days old newborn rats were taken and there were 10 rats in each group. After Ethical Committee was approved (TIBDAM-25), rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation and hypoxia (8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen) for two and half hours. Hypoxic ischemic rats treated with 24 mg/kg allopurinol 30 minutes and 12 hours (AL48 group), and 30 minutes, 12 and 24 hours (AL72 group) after hypoxic- ischemic insult. Twenty four hours after last dose, rats were decapitated. The others groups were sham and saline- treated hypoxic- ischemic (H-I) group. Caspase- 3 and caspase- 8 activities were measured in both hemispheres.Results: There was no difference in caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities between right and left brain hemispheres in each group (p>0.05). Caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities were significantly lower in sham group when compared to H-I group, AL48 and AL72 groups (all of it, p=0.0001). Even though there were no difference activities of caspase- 3 and caspase- 8 between H-I group and AL48 group (p>0.05), activities of caspase- 3 and caspase- 8 in AL72 group were significantly lower than H-I group and AL48 group (respectively p= 0.0001, p=0.001). Conclusions: Decreased activities of caspase- 3 and caspase- 8 in AL72 group may suggest that totally dosage of 72 mg/kg allopurinol may be effective for reducing neuronal apoptosis in newborn rats with hypoxic- ischemic insult. (Turk Arch Ped 2013; 48: 48-52) %K Allopurinol %K caspase-3 %K caspase-8 %K hypoxic-ischemia %K newborn rats %U http://www.turkpediatriarsivi.com/eng/makale/1460/129/Full-Text