2 Compounds Found Said to Protect Rabbits from Cerebral Palsy

In experiments conducted with rabbits, a team of scientists has created two chemical compounds that may protect a fetus from developing cerebral palsy as the result of oxygen deprivation.

"It is known that if you have too much nitric oxide in the brain, which can be produced during hypoxia, it leads to fetal neuro-degeneration," said lead researcher Richard B. Silverman, a chemistry professor at Northwestern University.

"If an event such as this occurs during pregnancy, it can lead to brain damage in the fetus that can result in cerebral palsy, said Silverman. "This can happen right at the end of pregnancy."

Common causes of hypoxia include a pinched umbilical cord or a cord that is wrapped around the fetus's neck or shoulder.

Silverman's report was published online Wednesday in the Annals of Neurology.

The researchers developed dual compounds that block an enzyme in brain cells that produces nitric oxide. At normal levels, nitric oxide is a neurotransmitter, which is vital to the functioning of a healthy brain. However, at high levels, nitric oxide can damage the tissues.

In the rabbit experiment, excess nitric oxide caused most of the fetus's to to die and those that survived were very drain damaged.

The doctor believes that the compounds can be used to treat infants with compromised oxygen levels before cesarean delivery. "The sooner you can protect the fetal brain from nitric oxide, the less neurodegeneration you will have," he said.