Abstract:

Cerebral white matter is vulnerable to oxidative stress: Oxidative stress is one of the major harmful conditions for the central nervous system (CNS). Oxidative stress is a state from an imbalance between free radical production and their removal by antioxidants,resulting in an excessive amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues. ROS causes cell damage due to oxidation of cellular components, including DNAs, proteins, and lipids. During physiological conditions, small amounts of ROS are generated in the process of normal biological activity, and ROS at physiological levels play important roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, during pathological conditions, ROS levels are increased and excessive ROS can lead to deleterious effects on many kinds of cells.