The Effect of Hypoxia on the Antioxidant System Formation of the Developing Brain

Hypoxia during the prenatal and early postnatal periods can lead to a predisposition for various neuropsychiatric disorders, including neurodegenerative conditions. Currently, there is extensive evidence of hypoxia-related alterations in the developing brain at both the molecular and cellular levels. Given that oxidative stress is often a consequence of oxygen deprivation, the efficacy of the interaction between prooxidant and antioxidant systems is crucial in protecting the developing brain against the negative effects of hypoxia. Nevertheless, research into the development of antioxidant systems has yielded highly fragmented results. This review analyses the accumulated knowledge regarding the impact of hypoxia on the developing brain with respect to the activity of primary antioxidant enzymes. The synthesis of data obtained from numerous studies in this area can provide a theoretical basis for the development of treatment approaches for various neurological disorders.