Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, when given immediately before reoxygenation, or before injury, does not ameliorate hypoxic ischemic injury to the central nervous system in the newborn pig.

Abstract

We demonstrated earlier in our laboratories that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FDP) would improve the outcome of hypoxic ischemic injury to the brain in the adult rabbit. Since many human newborns suffer hypoxic injury to the brain, with a secondary ischemic component due to hypoxic cardiac failure, we set out to reproduce similar experiments in newborn piglets. Hypoxic ischemic CNS damage was induced by ligating both carotid arteries and reducing BP to 66% of normal for 30 min; in the last 15 min, FIO2 was reduced to 0.6. Twelve piglets were randomized to receive either 175 mg/kg of FDP in the last 5 min before reoxygenation or the equivalent volume of saline. The other 20 piglets received 75 mg/kg of FDP in the 5 min immediately before carotid ligation, followed by 1.8 mg/kg.min continuous infusion for the 30 min of hypoxia and ischemia or an equivalent volume of saline. There were no significant differences in the neurologic exam scores or pathologic exam scores between the FDP and control animals at either dose level. In this animal model, FDP at the doses given was not effective in ameliorating hypoxic ischemic injury to the CNS.