Adverse effects in early ontogenesis can have a delayed influence on the functioning of various organs. We hypothesized that acute perinatal hypoxia would worsen the neurological status and functioning of cerebral arteries in adult rats. Two-day-old male Wistar rats underwent normobaric hypoxia for 2 h (8% O₂ content, «Hypoxia» group), while control rats from the same litters were placed in conditions with 21% O₂ content. «Hypoxia» rats exhibited delayed maturation of motor reflexes and reduced learning ability. The levels of key serum biochemical parameters did not differ between the two groups. Contractile responses induced by the thromboxane A₂ receptor agonist U46619 were increased in the basilar arteries of the «Hypoxia» group compared to «Control» rats. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine and arterial sensitivity to exogenous NO did not differ between the two groups. The NO-synthase inhibitor increased arterial contractility to a lesser extent in the «Hypoxia» group compared to the «Control» group, which was associated with decreased eNOS protein content in basilar arteries from «Hypoxia» rats. Thus, acute perinatal hypoxia impairs the neurological status of adult male rats, which may be partly associated with decreased blood supply to the brain as a result of weakened anticontractile influence of NO in basilar artery.

Since the last century, it has been known that inert gases can cause a range of physiological effects. The biological activity of inert gases is an extremely multifaceted phenomenon. Despite the similarity of most physical and chemical characteristics, they differently influence many organs and tissues by interacting with a variety of protein targets. Xenon, krypton, and argon are now known to be capable of altering the functional state of the central nervous system and correcting some psychoemotional disorders. In addition, noble gases act on the processes of apoptosis and cellular stress response, affect the immune status and various homeostatic parameters. The cytoprotective effects of helium on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems have also been convincingly demonstrated. Thus, inert gases are currently being considered as potential tools to correct various diseases. This review analyzes literature data on the physiological effects of inert gases, as identified in biomedical studies on patients, as well as in cell culture and in vivo models. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular gas of this group, starting from the most studied. For each of the inert gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon), the physiological activity, possibility of being used in medicine, and some known mechanisms of its action are considered. Moreover, the existing data are critically analyzed, and the key gaps to be filled in future research are highlighted.

The inert gas argon has recently attracted attention from researchers due to its pronounced neuroprotective properties. These properties are mediated by argon’s ability to suppress inflammatory processes and apoptosis. However, the therapeutic potential of argon application during the neonatal developmental period remains poorly studied. The early neonatal period is characterized by heightened sensitivity of the central nervous system to damaging factors, particularly neonatal hypoxia. This study evaluated the ability of repeated argon inhalations to interact with the effects of neonatal hypoxia at the behavioral level and exert delayed effects on caspase-3 expression. Inhalations were administered using an argon-enriched gas mixture (74% Ar, 21% O₂, 5% N₂) or artificial air from postnatal days (PND) 3 to 10 in a model of single normobaric hypoxia (8% O₂ for 2 hours on PND 2). The results showed that argon inhalations marginally increased the number of orienting head turns in rat pups on PND 5 but significantly reduced the speed of righting reflex execution in the negative geotaxis test on PND 11. Repeated argon inhalations led to decreased exploratory activity in the Open Field test (PND 27) and impaired skill acquisition in the Complex Food Maze. Perinatal hypoxia, in turn, reduced the quality of vestibulospinal reflex execution and locomotion in the early postnatal period. In the late postnatal period, hypoxia suppressed exploratory activity in the Elevated Plus Maze and worsened learning ability in the Complex Food Maze. Thus, argon application during this developmental phase may exert undesirable effects on the emotional status of the animals. No differences in hippocampal caspase-3 expression levels on PND 55 were observed between the groups.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can disrupt fetal development and increase the risk of having a child with neurological and cognitive impairments. In