Correlation between intracerebral pH and expression of Hv1 proton channel and myelin-related proteins after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in newborn pigs

Abstract

Abstract Background Myelin sheath injury after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia is well known and is associated with multiple factors. In this study, changes in pH and expression of voltage-gated proton channel (Hv1) as well as myelin-related proteins in the brain, after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) in neonatal pigs were analyzed. Methods A total of 53 healthy male neonatal pigs were used to establish an HIBI model. The control group was without HI process. The model group underwent hypoxic-ischemic process for 40 min. The pH and expression of Hv1, myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in the brain tissue of neonatal pigs were then analyzed at different time points after HI. Results After HIBI, the expression of Hv1 expression reached a peak at 2–6 h. The pH in this brain region reached a minimum at 0–2 h after HI, and was then gradually restored. Regarding the expression of myelin-related proteins, we observed an initial decrease in their levels, followed by an increase. MAG and MBP expression reached a minimum at 6–12 h, while MOG expression reached a minimum at 2–6 h. Furthermore, a correlation was found between pH and Hv1, MBP, and MOG expression, but not with MAG expression. Conclusions Our findings indicate that brain pH is correlated with Hv1, MBP, and MOG expression after HIBI, suggesting that changes in the brain environment impact myelin damage and repair to some extent.