Hypoxic damage of the cerebellum in 7-day-old rats. Ultrastructural and histochemical study.

The damaging influence of hypoxia on the cerebellum in immature rats, which is still discussed, was investigated. Using material obtained in a modified Levine model for combined hypoxic-ischemic damage in 7-day-old rats, we examined changes in cerebellum submitted to hypoxia only. The results demonstrated classic features of hypoxic nervous tissue damage and calcium accumulation in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. This was investigated using electron microscopy combined with the oxalate-pyroantimonate method. We propose that Ca2+ increases in endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial Ca2+ pools may be involved in damage-mediated mechanisms. These results support a role of calcium as a mechanism of cerebellar cell loss after this form of injury.