White matter ischaemia

Brain and spinal cord while matter are vulnerable to the effects of ischaemia. Reduction of the energy supply leads to a cascade of events including depolarization, influx of Na+ and the subsequent reverse operation of the membrane protein the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger which ultimately terminates in intracellular Ca2+ overload and irreversible axonal injury. Various points along the white matter damage cascade could be specifically targeted as a potential means of inhibiting the development of axonal irreversible injury. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.