Rapid oxygen titration following cardiopulmonary resuscitation mitigates cerebral overperfusion and striatal mitochondrial dysfunction in asphyxiated newborn lambs

Asphyxiated neonates must have oxygenation rapidly restored to limit ongoing hypoxic-ischemic injury. However, the effects of transient hyperoxia after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) are poorly understood. We randomly allocated acutely asphyxiated, near-term lambs to cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 100% oxygen ("standard oxygen", n = 8) or air (n = 7) until 5 minutes after ROSC, or to resuscitation in 100% oxygen immediately weaned to air upon ROSC ("rapid-wean", n = 7). From 5 minutes post-ROSC, oxygen was titrated to target preductal oxygen saturation between 90-95%. Cerebral tissue oxygenation was transiently but markedly elevated following ROSC in the standard oxygen group compared to the air and rapid-wean groups. The air group had a delayed rise in cerebral tissue oxygenation from 5 minutes after ROSC coincident with up-titration of oxygen. These alterations in oxygen kinetics corresponded with similar overshoots in cerebral perfusion (pressure and flow), indicating a physiological mechanism. Transient cerebral tissue hyperoxia in the standard oxygen and air groups resulted in significant alterations in mitochondrial respiration and dynamics, relative to the rapid-wean group. Overall, rapid-wean of oxygen following ROSC preserved striatal mitochondrial respiratory function and reduced the expression of genes involved in free radical generation and apoptosis, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy to limit cerebral reperfusion injury.