[P2.55]: Expansion of somatosensory activity onto visual structures in the congenital anophthalmic mouse

for HI alone. Multiplex antibody cytokine assay demonstrates a spectrum of pro-inflammatory cytokines elevated at 24 h post injury. Consistent with the observed increases in oxidative stress components in the HI rat pups resuscitated with 100% oxygen, there was an increase in COX-2 levels likely to account in part for the increase in oxidative stress. In 80% of preterm infants, the common view is that the benefits of oxygen therapy outweigh the risks. We have shown deficits in attention, motor, visual-motor, and executive processing skills in preterm infants otherwise considered ‘‘healthy,’’ but these are not apparent before entry into formal learning settings [Smith et al., 2008. Int. J. Dev. Neurosci. 26(1): 125–131]. Few clinical studies have attempted to target improving outcomes in this large preterm population. These deficits may be accounted for by inflammation caused by the use of 100% oxygen resuscitation. Our long-term goal is to guide clinical trials of oxygen resuscitation by exploring its consequences in the P7 rat model of HI and developing novel interventions that will enhance benefits while decreasing inflammatory consequences.