Abstract: Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the predominant form of brain injury and the main cause of cerebral palsy and cognitive deficits in premature infants. The number of low-birth-weight infants, who survive to demonstrate these neurologic deficits, is increasing. The factors of PVL are ischemia and inflammatory reaction which cause interaction of glutamate and free radicals. Pre-oligodendroglia is highly vulnerable to death caused by their interaction leading to neuropathologic hallmarks of PVL, and resulting in cerebral palsy. It is suggested that the preservation of occurrence and development of PVL is the key for depressing incidence rate of cerebral palsy. Pharmacologic interventions that target these toxic molecules will be useful in diminishing the severity of PVL accordingly to decreasing or lessening cerebral palsy in premature infants..

Key words: premature infants, cerebral palsy, periventricular leukomalacia, pre-oligodendroglia