Figure 3. Carbon monoxide effect in hippocampus after perinatal hypoxia-ischemia – apoptotic profiles.

Whereas contralateral hippocampus displayed a preserved morphology (A) following HI, diffuse tissue disruption was detected in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the occlusion (B). C–E are representative pictures of ischemic hippocampus, where diffuse apoptosis was documented; with peculiar morphological features including pyknotic nuclei (C), indicating early stage of apoptosis, progressive nuclear fragmentation (D) and karyorrhexis as confirmed by detectable apoptotic bodies (E). Compared to HI group, the number of apoptotic profiles was significantly lower when animals were exposed to CO prior to HI (F). All values are mean ± SD (error bars); *p<0.05 compared to Control group for the corresponding side and **p<0.05 compared to HI group ischemic hippocampus. (G) For each group there is no significant difference in cytotoxic edema volume (mm³) between the ipsi- and the contralateral hippocampus.