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Vitamine D has protective effects on heart, kidneys, lung and skletal and immune systems. It was shown in hypoxic-ischemic rat brain injury models and hyperoxic lung injury models. We aimed to investigate low-dose and high-dose vitamine D effects in hyperoxic brain injury in rats.  Twentyseven Wistar rat pups were divided into four groups: control group(n:7),hyperoxia+saline treated group(n:6),hyperoxia+ow-dose vitamine D treated group(n:7) and hyperoxia+high-dose vitamine D treated group(n:7).Hyperoxia groups were exposed to 80% oxygen (n=20) in plexiglas chambers in which the oxygen concentration was monitored twice daily from birth until postnatal day five.The hyperoxia+low-dose vitamin D treated group received an intraperitoneal injection of vitamine D at a dose of 3ng/kg/day and hyperoxia+high-dose vitamin D treated group recevied an intraperitoneal injection of vitamine D at a dose of 5ng/kg/day. At postnatal day 5, all animals were killed. Neuronal cell death and apoptosis (TUNNEL and caspase) were evaluated. Histopathological examination showed that vitamine-D significantly diminished apoptosis in the CA1 region, prefrontal and parietal cortex, subiculum and dentate gyrus of hippocampus. Vitamine D was efecctive in both low and high doses. Vitamine D may offer a therapeutic potential for neuroprotection under conditions of hyperoxic brain injury.

brain injury, vitamine D, neuroprotective agents