The levels of selected neuroregulatory proteins that inhibit or promote apoptotic cell death were measured in the striatum of piglets subjected to precisely controlled 1 h hypoxic insult followed by 0, 2 and 4 h recovery and compared to sham operated animals. The anti-apoptotic proteins: there were increases in Survivin at 0 (157%, P = 0.031) and 4 h (171%, P = 0.033), in Bcl-XL at 0 (138%, P = 0.028) and 4 h (143%, P = 0.007), in VEGF at 4 h (185%, P = 0.019) and Hsp27 at 2 h (144%, P = 0.05) and 4 h (143%, P = 0.05). The pro-apoptotic proteins: caspases-1 and 7 increased at 4 h (135%, P = 0.05) and (129%, P = 0.038), respectively. Bim increased after 4 h (115%, P = 0.028), Apoptosis Inducing Factor after 2 h (127%, P = 0.048) and Calpain after 4 h (143% of control, P = 0.04). Hypoxia causes increase in levels of both anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins. Their relative activity determines the outcome in terms of cell damage and neuronal deficit.