Acrolein inflicts axonal membrane disruption and conduction loss in isolated guinea-pig spinal cord

We have examined the effect of acrolein, an aldehyde product of lipid peroxidation, on axons in isolated guinea-pig spinal cord white matter. We found that 200 muM acrolein, but not 50 muM, induced a time-dependent loss of compound action potential conduction. Such conduction loss was irreversible within I h after acrolein perfusion. Parallel anatomical assessment indicates membrane integrity breakdown based on a horseradish peroxidase-exclusion assay. This is the first report to suggest that acrolein inflicts severe axonal damage. Since axonal damage within white matter plays a key role in the pathology of traumatic spinal cord injury, we suggest that acrolein may be a critical factor in mediating secondary functional loss. (C) 2002 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.