Minocycline-induced attenuation of iron overload and brain injury after experimental germinal matrix hemorrhage

•Brain iron overload plays a detrimental role in brain injury after experimental germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH).•The current study found that minocycline reduces iron overload after GMH and iron-induced brain injury.•Minocycline may be a therapy for GMH newborns in the future clinical treatment.

Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is the most important adverse neurologic event during the newborn period. Evidence has shown that neonates with GMH and hydrocephalus have more severe damage compared to those with GMH alone. Our preliminary study demonstrated the role of iron in hydrocephalus and brain damage in adult rats following intraventricular hemorrhage. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate iron accumulation and iron-handling proteins in a rat model of GMH and whether minocycline reduces iron overload after GMH and iron-induced brain injury in vivo. This study was divided into two parts. In the first part, rats received either a needle insertion or an intracerebral injection of 0.3 U of clostridial collagenase VII-S. Brain iron and brain iron handling proteins (heme oxygenase-1 and ferritin) were measured. In the second part, rats with a GMH were treated with minocycline or vehicle. Brain edema, brain cell death, hydrocephalus, iron-handling proteins and long-term motor function were examined. The result showed iron accumulation and upregulation of iron-handling proteins after GMH. Minocycline treatment significantly reduced GMH-induced brain edema, hydrocephalus and brain damage. Minocycline also suppressed upregulation of ferritin after GMH. In conclusion, the current study found that iron plays a role in brain injury following GMH and that minocycline reduces iron overload after GMH and iron-induced brain injury.