CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Both epidemiological and experimental data indicate that ionizing radiation (IR) maydisrupt developmental processes leading to deleterious effects on brain functions. A central role ofreactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), as important mediators in neurotoxicity andneuroprotection, has been demonstrated. Primary ionization events triggered by IR are amplified andpropagated by mechanisms involving ROS and RNS, which activate several signaling pathwaysleading to final radiation effects. The immature and adult brain display clear differences in the waythey respond to insults. Moreover, a great deal of attention is being focus on the limited antioxidant capacity and theparticular lipid composition of cell membranes of the developing brain that render it more vulnerable to oxidative stress.The goal of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the role of alterations in the balance betweenoxidative/nitrosative stress and antioxidant capacity in the pathways involved in cellular radiation response, withparticular focus on the possible therapies proposed to limit radiation-induced effects in the brain.