['Repetitive umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) in ovine fetus leading to severe acidemia result in adaptive shut-down of electrocortical activity [electrocorticogram (ECoG)] as well as systemic and brain inflammation. We hypothesized that the fetuses with earlier ECoG shut-down as a neuroprotective mechanism in response to repetitive UCOs will show less brain inflammation and, moreover, that chronic hypoxia will impact this relationship.', 'Near-term fetal sheep were chronically instrumented with ECoG leads, vascular catheters, and a cord occluder and then underwent repetitive UCOs for up to 4\u2009h or until fetal arterial pH was <7.00. Eight animals, hypoxic prior to the UCOs (SaO2 <55%), were allowed to recover 24\u2009h post insult, while 14 animals, 5 of whom also were chronically hypoxic, were allowed to recover 48\u2009h post insult, after which brains were perfusion-fixed. Time of ECoG shut-down and corresponding pH were noted, as well as time to then reach pH <7.00 (ΔT). Microglia (MG) were counted as a measure of inflammation in gray matter layers 4-6 (GM4-6) where most ECoG activity is generated. RESULTS are reported as mean\u2009±\u2009SEM for p\u2009<\u20090.05.', "Repetitive UCOs resulted in worsening acidosis over 3-4\u2009h with arterial pH decreasing to 6.97\u2009±\u20090.02 all UCO groups' animals, recovering to baseline by 24\u2009h. ECoG shut-down occurred 52\u2009±\u20097\u2009min before reaching pH <7.00 at pH 7.23\u2009±\u20090.02 across the animal groups. MG counts were inversely correlated to ΔT in 24\u2009h recovery animals (R\u2009=\u2009-0.84), as expected. This was not the case in normoxic 48\u2009h recovery animals, and, surprisingly, in hypoxic 48\u2009h recovery animals, this relationship was reversed (R\u2009=\u20090.90)."] Does adaptive brain shut-down counteract neuroinflammation in the near-term ovine fetus?