Newborn piglets exposed to hypoxia after nicotine or saline pretreatment: Long-term effects on brain and heart

Objective. We wished to assess the effect of global hypoxia and the effect of nicotine pretreatment on the brain and heart of newborn pigs. Hypothesising that nicotine might give a better outcome because of its anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods. Twenty-two anaesthetised piglets were randomised to pretreatment with saline or nicotine (130g/kg/h) before 45min global hypoxia. They were observed for 27h. The brain and heart were assessed with histopathological methods. Serum for Troponin t (TnT) analyses was collected at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Results. There were no significant differences between the groups. At the end of hypoxia, BE was -14.84.9mmol/l and MABP was 259mmHg. Seven animals had autolysis of the cerebrum/cerebellum, their BE after hypoxia was -191.8mmol/l and MABP 233mmHg. The remaining 15 animals had a BE of -134.7mmol/l (p=0.0004) and a MABP of 2611mmHg (ns). Eleven animals presented myocardial damage. A significant increase in TnT occurred in both groups. TnT increase and myocardial damage correlated (p=0.001; r=0.67). Animals with severe increase in TnT presented severe brain damage. Conclusions. Severe increase in serum TnT levels was linked to severe cerebral damage. Nicotine pretreatment had no impact on cerebral or cardiac histopathology.