OXIDATIVE STRESS IN SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH-SYNDROME

We investigated the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex of victims of sudden infant death syndrome and of age-matched infants dying acute ly of known causes (non-sudden infant death syndrome controls). Tissue sections were investigated for the presence of neurons expressing sig ns of elevated levels of free radical using immunohistochemical marker s for superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Brain tissues d isplayed immunopositive neurons in every infant. In control infants, a n age-related decline in the number of superoxide dismutase- and gluta thione peroxidase-immuno-reactive neurons was apparent in the hippocam pus and parahippocampal cortex. Significantly increased numbers of imm unoreactive neurons were found in victims of sudden infant death syndr ome under 6 months of age compared to age-matched controls. This sugge sts that infants who later become victims of sudden infant death syndr ome may experience antemortem periods of oxidative stress, elevated le vels of free radicals, and compensatory up-regulation of the free radi cal scavenger enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase.