[Animal models of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy]

This review presents the animal models more widely used to study neurological and neuropathological outcomes of perinatal asphyxia. Methods used to induce hypoxia/ischemia in fetal and newborn non-human primates, lambs, piglets and rodents are concisely described, reporting the more relevant neuropathological and behavioural findings. In line with human observational data, experimental studies indicate that motor behaviour and attentional/cognitive abilities are among those behavioural regulations more significantly affected by perinatal asphyxia.