Brain region specificity in reactive oxygen species production and maintenance of redox balance

The brain produces various reactive oxygen species in enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions as a by-product of metabolism and/or for redox signaling. Effective antioxidant system the cells maintains balance. However, neurons glia from some regions are more vulnerable to oxidative stress ischemia/reperfusion, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders than rest brain. Using fluorescent indicators live cell imaging confocal microscopy, we have measured rate cytosolic mitochondrial production, lipid peroxidation, glutathione levels cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, stem cerebellum acute slices rat We found that basal ROS production is at its highest cerebellum, it mainly generated by glial cells. Activation glutamate ATP led maximal rates midbrain compared Mitochondrial had only minor implication total with values cortex minimal midbrain. peroxidation was higher while GSH level similar most lowest Thus, vary across regions.