Changes of BAEP,NO contents and Na+-K+ATPase activities in brain tissues in rats with hyperbilirubinemia

AIM: To explore the roles of brain-stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) in early monitoring the hearing loss and brain damages in hyperbilirubinemia and nitric oxide(NO) in the pathogenesis of bilirubin-induced hearing loss and brain damages. METHODS: Different doses of bilirubin solution (30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) were injected into the abdominal cavity of 15-day old SD rats to make the animal model of hyperbilirubinemia. The serum concentrations of bilirubin were detected by a micro-gauge. The bilirubin concentrations in the brain tissues were examined via a diazo method. The Na+-K+ATPase activities in the brain tissues were analyzed by rooting phosphorus. The NO contents in the brain tissues were assayed via the method of nitrate reductase. BAEP were recorded with an evoked potential recorder. RESULTS: After making the ejection, parts of the rats in the high dosage groups (120 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg) showed the abnormal neuro-behaviors. After 6 hours of the ejection, the bilirubin concentrations in serum and in brain tissues, and NO contents in the brain tissues were increased significantly. The Na+-K+ATPase activities in the brain tissues were decreased obviously, and the PL and IPL of BAEP were prolonged significantly in all the experimental rats except the ones in low dosage group (30 mg/kg). The changes of them were closely related to the dose of injected bilirubin. CONCLUSION: The PL and IPL of BAEP are the objective and sensitive indexes for early monitoring the hearing loss and brain damages in hyperbilirubinemia. NO may plays a certain role in the pathogenesis of bilirubin induced hearing loss and brain damages.