摘要： Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed to provide reliable information concerning brain oximetry and tissue activation level in the perinatal period. We aimed to investigate whether NIRS brain patterns in healthy preterm and term infants were gender- and gestational age-dependent. Methods: We conducted an observational study in 74 newborns, from consecutive singleton pregnancies, of whom 37 were born at term (male: n=19 female: n=18) and 37 (male: n=18 female: n=19) were preterm. Cerebral oximetry (crSO2) and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE), were recorded on the 5th day from birth. Results: crSO2 was significantly higher and cFTOE lower (P<0.001, for both) in the preterm female than male group. At term crSO2 was significantly higher and cFTOE lower (P<0.001, for both) in males. crSO2 (male: R=0.84, P<0.001; female: R=0.74, P= P<0.001) and cFTOE (male: R=0.72, P<0.001; female: R=0.72, P<0.001) in male and female groups correlated positively with gestational age at recording. Conclusion: Different brain oximetry between males and females in preterm and term gestational ages, may suggest that in the perinatal period brain development is gender- and time-dependent. Data support the use of NIRS as a feasible tool for non-invasive cerebral monitoring.