Study of the dynamics of gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in the brain and heart tissues of rats after exposure to acute normobaric hypoxia

Relevance. Perinatal hypoxia is a condition characterized by oxygen deficiency in the body of the fetus or newborn. The relevance of prenatal hypoxia and its long-term effects is associated with the mechanisms underlying numerous pathological conditions in which oxidative stress plays a significant role. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of mRNA expression of antioxidant enzyme genes in rat brain and heart tissue after exposure to acute normobaric hypoxia to identify common pathophysiological mechanisms of organ damage during neonatal hypoxia, which are relevant for veterinary neonatology and comparative pathology.

Methods. The study was conducted on Wistar rats of both sexes (20 mature females and 10 mature males, which were equally divided into two groups by randomization, and from which offspring were obtained). Group 1 was a control group, while animals in Group 2 simulated the state of human preterm pregnancy: rat pups were exposed to acute normobaric hypoxia on the second postnatal day.

Results. Subsequently, the expression of Sod1, Cat, GPX1, and GSR mRNA in brain and heart tissue was assessed using real-time PCR. An increase in Sod1, Cat, and GSR mRNA expression was observed in the brain and heart tissue of male and female rats immediately after exposure to ANH. Subsequently, a decrease in gene expression was observed 1, 7, and 14 days after exposure to ANH, while the opposite trend was observed for GPX1 mRNA. This trend reflects the transition from the acute response to hypoxia (the alarm stage) to a long-term adaptation phase.

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