Topiramate and darbepoetin alpha ameliorate bilirubin-induced neuronal cell damage.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether prophylactic darbepoetin alpha and/or topiramate administration could prevent bilirubin neurotoxicity (BNTx) in experimental model of kernicterus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 Wistar albino rat puppies with experimental kernicterus model were included in the study. The Kernicterus was established administering a bilirubin injection via a cisterna magna puncture 30 minutes after ip drug injection. The puppies were divided into five groups with 12 in each group as shown below: a control group, bilirubin group, darbepoetin alpha group, topiramate group and darbepoetin alpha+ topiramate group. Darbepoetin alpha and/or topiramate were administered on day 5 intraperitoneally (ip). At the 6th and 24th hours, bilirubin induced neurological dysfunction (BIND) score was used to assess behavioral changes. Hearing functions were evaluated on days 10 and 28. On day 30, the Water Maze water tank test was implemented to evaluate spatial memory. The rats were sacrificed on days 6 and 34 and apoptosis in the globus pallidus and hippocampus was examined.

RESULTS: The BIND score was improved following darbepoetin alpha treatment. Neither darbepoetin alpha nor topiramate therapy ameliorate spatial memory. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the auditory brainstem response (ABR). The combined use of darbepoetin alpha and topiramate lead to slight decrease in apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Darbepoetin alpha or topiramate administration ameliorates bilirubin induced neurological dysfunction in experimental model of kernicterus.