Impact of hypoxia-ischemia and dopamine treatment on dopamine receptor binding density in the preterm fetal sheep brain

Abstract

This is the first study on the effects of hypoxia-ischemia and dopamine treatment on the dopaminergic pathway in the preterm brain. In the striatum of fetal sheep (equivalent to ∼26–28 wk of human gestation), we demonstrate that hypoxia-ischemia leads to cell death, reduces D1 and D2 receptors, and reduces dopamine transporter. Intravenous dopamine infusion at clinical dosage used in preterm human infants does not alter the striatal cell death, D1 and D2 receptor density levels, and DAT protein expressions after hypoxia-ischemia in the preterm brain.