Raloxifene as a neuroprotectant in an in vitro model of perinatal asphyxia

Introduction: perinatal asphyxia is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, with preterm newborns being the most affected and it is more frequent in developing countries. Objective: to describe the use of raloxifene as a neuroprotector in perinatal asphyxia. Method: a review of the literature selected by the authors was carried out, obtained through reference search engines, in which topics related to perinatal asphyxia and all the alterations produced by this pathology are included. Results: applying raloxifene to 7-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were submitted to a ligation of the common carotid artery, we obtained as results a decrease in the production of free radicals, among other processes, favoring neuronal viability through the conservation of mitochondria functions. Conclusion: in view of the lack of pharmacological treatments, certain international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, have emphasized research into new therapeutic alternatives. Today there is only one type of treatment approved and used for newborns suffering from perinatal asphyxia, therapeutic hypothermia. The use of raloxifene in a murine model promises to be an alternative, although it is still under investigation