Glutathione and ascorbic acid enhance recovery of Guinea pig spinal cord white matter following ischemia and acrolein exposure.
OBJECTIVE
We have shown that acrolein, a lipid peroxidation byproduct, can inflict significant damage in isolated spinal cord white matter following oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD). The mechanism of such acrolein-induced damage is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine whether glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid, two reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, can alleviate functional and anatomical damage due to acrolein.


METHODS
We used an OGD injury model with isolated guinea pig spinal cord white matter. Sucrose gap recording was used to monitor axonal impulse conduction, and a horseradish peroxidase exclusion test was employed to determine membrane integrity. The functional and anatomical parameters were compared in three groups: acrolein, acrolein/GSH and acrolein/ascorbic acid.


RESULTS
We found that while GSH resulted in an 87% recovery of compound action potential conductance, ascorbic acid produced a 97% recovery, compared with a 69% recovery in an injured group without treatment. It is noted that GSH, and to a lesser extent ascorbic acid, preferentially enhanced functional recovery in smaller axons.


CONCLUSIONS
Acrolein-induced neuronal damage is likely mediated by ROS. Furthermore, GSH and ascorbic acid are effective in suppressing acrolein and free radical-induced injury in spinal cord white matter.
Logan
Melissa Peasley
MP
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Paralysis Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1244, USA. riyi@purdue.edu
Parker
Steven
S
Shi
Riyi
R
D000171:Acrolein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000172:deficiency; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D010477:Perfusion; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000171:Acrolein; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D005947:Glucose; D001205:Ascorbic Acid