[LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO PERINATAL HYPOXIA ON MICROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM OF NEOCORTEX IN RATS]

Morphological characteristics of the elements of vessel walls in the microvasculature of rat neocortex were studied after perinatal hypoxia and subsequent introduction of salifen, a derivative of GABA, at long-term postnatal periods. It is shown that salifen at a therapeutic dose has a protective effect on the endothelium of blood vessels in the microvasculature of neocortex. It is found that after exposure to hypoxia followed by application of salifen no endothelial hypertrophy, appearance of numerous processes of endotheliocytes in the vascular lumen, and narrowing of the capillary lumen occur. The formation of la- mina densa is almost identical to that in the control. Swelling of perivascular astrocytes and reactive chan- ges of pericytes are also absent. In all layers of the neocortex the density of vessel distribution in the mic- rovasculature as well as their cross-sectional area in adult animals of the control group and after exposure to hypoxia and salifen application were approximately identical. It is shown that changes and restructu- ring of the capillary bed after exposure to hypoxia and application of salifen take place at earlier terms of development whereas by the maturity period stabilization of the structural parameters of the microvas- culature occurs. The protective effect of salifen on the elements of capillary walls determines the clinical effectiveness of its use and serves as a basis for further research in this direction.