Pathophysiology of neonatal brain lesions:: Lessons from animal models of excitotoxicity

Aim: The pathophysiology of perinatal brain lesions is probably complex and multifactorial. The development and characterization of distinct yet complementary animal models should help to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying perinatal brain lesions. This paper reviews experimental data obtained in animal models of neonatal excitotoxic brain lesions that closely mimic some of the lesions found in human cerebral palsy. Conclusion: Available data point to a key role for brain macrophages and oligodendrocytes in neonatal rodent excitotoxic brain lesions and underline the impact of cytokines on these lesions.