title: Neurobiology of hypoxic-ischemic injury in the developing brain.
abstract: Hypoxic ischemia is a common cause of damage to the fetal and neonatal brain. Although systemic and cerebrovascular physiologic factors play an important role in the initial phases of hypoxic-ischemic injuries, the intrinsic vulnerability of specific cell types and systems in the developing brain may be more important in determining the final pattern of damage and functional disability. Excitotoxicity, a term applied to the death of neurons and certain other cells caused by overstimulation of excitatory, mainly glutamate, neurotransmitter receptors, plays a critical role in these processes. Selected neuronal circuits as well as certain populations of glia such as immature periventricular oligodendroglia may die from excitotoxicity triggered by hypoxic ischemia. These patterns of neuropathologic vulnerability are associated with clinical syndromes of neurologic disability such as the extrapyramidal and spastic diplegia forms of cerebral palsy. The cascade of biochemical and histopathologic events triggered by hypoxic ischemia can extend for days to weeks after the insult is triggered, creating the potential for therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and Developmental Medicine and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. Johnston@Kennedykrieger.org
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Trescher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration
chemical_list: D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005947:Glucose