Antihypoxic Properties of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Modeling of Hypoxia in Dissociated Hippocampal Cultures

The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the survival and main parameters of bioelectrical activity of neuronal network in primary hippocampal culture in short-term hypoxia and within 7 days of posthypoxic period in vitro.

Materials and Methods. The investigation was performed using dissociated hippocampal cells taken from embryonic CBA mice (E18) and plated on multielectrode arrays and cultured for 33 days. Modeling of hypoxia was performed on 33 day of culture development in vitro (DIV) by replacing the normoxic culture medium by a medium with low oxygen for 10 minutes. BDNF (1 ng/ml) was added 20 minutes before hypoxic damage.

Results. 10-minute hypoxia with an oxygen content in the medium of 0.37 ml/l after a short period of normalization of activity after reoxyganation was stated to lead to irreversible inhibition of the spontaneous bioelectrical activity of dissociated hippocampal cultures in remote posthypoxic period accompanied by the increase of the number of dead cells by 4.2 times. The addition of 1 ng/ml BDNF into the culture medium 20 minutes before changing normoxic medium for medium with low oxygen saved bioelectrical activity both in the process of hypoxia itself and in posthypoxic period, and increased cell survival.

Conclusion. Preventive application of BDNF reduces the negative consequences of normobaric hypoxia that enables to consider the neurotrophic factor as the substance having not only neuroprotective, but also antihypoxic properties.

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Vedunova М.V., Sakharnova Т.А., Mitroshina E.V., Mukhina I.V. Antihypoxic Properties of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Modeling of Hypoxia in Dissociated Hippocampal Cultures. Sovremennye tehnologii v medicine 2012; (4): 17