Disorder in human myelin induced by superoxide radical: an in vitro investigation.
Potassium superoxide (KO.2), applied as a source of superoxide radical directly in vitro to white matter from young adult human brain, caused the lipid phase of the myelin to change from a crystalline (ordered) state to a liquid crystalline (disordered) state. The myelin transition temperature decreased from 65 degrees C to 37 degrees C. This alteration was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation products--malondialdehyde, a conjugated diene, and ethane. These changes in human myelin, induced by direct application of O2-. radical, simulated myelin deterioration that occurs in the course of natural aging, thus, providing further substantiation for the notion that O2-. might be a major toxic agent associated with the aging process.
D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000633:toxicity*; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D013481:Superoxides; C039316:potassium superoxide