Changes in the DNA Methylation Pattern on Formation of Adaptive and Pathological Responses of Telencephalon Neurons to Hypobaric Hypoxia

• Published in: Neuroscience and behavioral physiology 2020-03, Vol.50 (3), p.388-391
• Main Authors: Churilova, A. V., Glushchenko, T. S., Rybnikova, E. A., Samoilov, M. O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA methylation; Hippocampus; Hypoxia; Neocortex; Neurobiology; Neuroprotection; Neurosciences; Telencephalon
• ISSN: 0097-0549; 1573-899X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11055-020-00910-5

Objective. To study changes in the level of DNA methylation in rat neocortex and hippocampus cells on exposure to different hypobaric hypoxia regimes. Materials and methods. Studies were performed on 24 adult male Wistar rats (180–200 g). Animals were subjected to hypobaric hypoxia in different regimes using a flow-type barochamber. Brain sections were used for immunohistochemical reactions for 5-methylcytidine in DNA. Changes in the total number of cells and their distribution into two classes based on the intensity of the immunohistochemical reaction for DNA 5-methylcytidine in neocortex and hippocampus were evaluated. Results. Presentation of severe harmful hypoxia (SHH) produced increases in the number of intensively immunopositive cells in the neocortex by 3 h after exposure. The prophylactic neuroprotective action of three (but not one) sessions of moderate hypobaric hypoxia (MHH) led to a reduction in the number of intensely immunopositive cells in the neocortex in response to subsequent SHH. No significant changes were seen in the hippocampus. Conclusions. Opposite changes were seen in the level of DNA methylation in the rat neocortex depending on the degree of hypobaric hypoxia: harmful SHH was linked with gene repression, while adaptogenic MHH produced gene activation.