Oxygen, antioxidants and brain dysfunction

Brain is a logical target of free radical damage, considering the large lipid content of myelin sheaths and the high rate of brain oxidative metabolism. Thus, the hypothesis that free radicals may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain CNS diseases has gained increasing popularity in recent years. In CNS ischemia-reperfusion injury, the role of free radicals appears to be well established, however, involvement of other factors, such as excitatory amino acids and prostaglandins, may also contribute to the production of neuronal necrosis following ischemia. Liberation of free iron appears to play a crucial role in the generation of reactive oxygen species in posttraumatic epilepsy. Although there is no direct evidence to indicate free radical involvement in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, brain trauma with release of iron, amyloid angiopathy and disturbances in blood-brain barrier function all appear to contribute to the development of ischemic episodes with free radical generation and neuronal degeneration. In Parkinson's disease, the substantia nigra appears to be under oxidative stress as evidenced by the findings of increased lipid peroxidation, reduced GSH levels, high concentration of iron and free radical generation via autocatalytic mechanisms within neuromelanin-containing catecholaminergic neurons. Regardless of the initial insult, a cascade of events involving both reactive oxygen radicals and mitochondrial metabolism is likely to contribute to cell injury.