Could Perinatal Asphyxia Induce a Synaptopathy? New Highlights from an Experimental Model

MARÍA INÉS HERRERA; MATILDE OTERO-LOSADA; LUCAS D UDOVIN; CARLOS KUSNIER; RODOLFO KÖLLIKER-FRERS; WANDERLEY DE SOUZA; CAPANI FRANCISCO

Neural Plasticity

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Año: 2017

1687-5443

Birth asphyxia also termed perinatal asphyxia is an obstetric complication that strongly affects brain structure and function. Centralnervous system is highly susceptible to oxidative damage caused by perinatal asphyxia while activation and maturity of the properpathways are relevant to avoiding abnormal neural development. Perinatal asphyxia is associated with high morbimortality in termand preterm neonates. Although several studies have demonstrated a variety of biochemical and molecular pathways involved inperinatal asphyxia physiopathology, little is known about the synaptic alterations induced by perinatal asphyxia. Nearly 25% of thenewborns who survive perinatal asphyxia develop neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy and certain neurodevelopmentaland learning disabilities where synaptic connectivity disturbances may be involved. Accordingly, here we review and discuss theassociation of possible synaptic dysfunction with perinatal asphyxia on the basis of updated evidence from an experimental model.