Effect of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibition on caspase-9 activity during hypoxia in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets

Previous studies have shown that cerebral hypoxia results in increased activity of caspase-9, a key initiator of programmed cell death. We have also shown increased nitric oxide (NO) free radical generation during hypoxia in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. The present study tests the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced increase in caspase-9 activity in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets is mediated by NO derived from neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). To test this hypothesis, cytosolic caspase-9 activity was determined in 15 newborn piglets divided into three groups: normoxic (Nx, n = 5), hypoxic (Hx, n = 5), and Hx pretreated with 7-nitroindazole sodium salt (7-NINA), a selective nNOS inhibitor, 1 mg/kg, i.p., 1 h prior to hypoxia (Hx + 7NI, n = 5). The hypoxic piglets were exposed to an FiO2 of 0.06 for 1 h. Tissue hypoxia was documented by ATP and phosphocreatinine (PCr) levels. The cytosolic fraction was obtained from the cerebral cortical tissue following centrifugation at 100,000 × g for 1 h and caspase-9 activity was assayed using Ac-Leu-Glu-His-Asp-amino-4-methyl coumarin, a specific fluorogenic substrate for caspase-9. Caspase-9 activity was determined spectroflourometrically at 460 nm using 380 nm as excitation wavelength. ATP levels (μmol/g brain) were 4.35 ± 0.21 in the Nx 1.43 ± 0.28 in the Hx (p < 0.05 versus Nx), and 1.73 ± 0.33 in the Hx + 7-NINA group (p < 0.05 versus Nx, p = NS versus Hx). PCr levels (μmol/g brain) were 3.80 ± 0.26 in the Nx, 0.96 ± 0.20 in the Hx (p < 0.05 versus Nx), and 1.09 ± 0.39 in the Hx + 7 NINA group (p < 0.05 versus Nx, p = NS versus Hx). Cytosolic caspase-9 activity (nmol/mg protein/h), increased from 1.27 ± 0.15 in the Nx to 2.13 ± 0.14 in the Hx (p < 0.05 versus Nx) compared to 1.10 ± 0.21 in the Hx + 7-NINA group (p < 0.05 versus Hx, p = NS versus Nx). Caspase-3 activity (nmol/mg protein/h) also increased from 9.39 ± 0.73 in Nx to 18.94 ± 3.64 in Hx (p < 0.05 versus Nx) compared to 8.04 ± 1.05 in the Hx + 7-NINA group (p < 0.05 versus Hx, p = NS versus Nx). The data show that administration of 7-NINA, an nNOS inhibitor, prevented the hypoxia-induced increase in caspase-9 activity that leads to increase in caspase-3 activity. Since nNOS inhibition blocked the increase in caspase-9 activity during hypoxia, we conclude that hypoxia-induced increase in caspase-9 activity is mediated by nNOS derived NO. We propose that the NO generated during hypoxia leads to activation of caspase-9 and results in initiation of caspase-cascade-dependent hypoxic neuronal death.