Molecular mechanisms of ischemic damage of spinal cord.

Incomplete ischemia of the spinal cord of rabbits was produced by a 40-min occlusion of the abdominal aorta followed by 1 and 4 days of recirculation. Regional evaluation of ATP-induced bioluminescence after 20 min of ischemia revealed ATP depletion mainly in the gray matter of the spinal cord. After 40 min of ischemia, ATP-induced bioluminescence was too faint to expose the photographic film. Within 1 and 4 days of recovery following 40 min of ischemia, restitution of ATP was regionally heterogeneous, reduced predominantly in the anterior horns of gray matter. Polysome profiles remained unaltered during the ischemic period, but a marked disaggregation of polyribosomes occurred after 10 min of recirculation. Protein synthesis in a cell-free system was inhibited by the addition of a postischemic cytosol or protein fraction isolated from cytosols on a DEAE column. The inhibition can be overcome by the addition of each initiation factor 2 (eIF-2), GTP and GDP exchange factor (GEF). Occlusion of abdominal aorta for 40 min results in decrease in monoamine oxidase accumulation in both proximal and distal ligature placed on sciatic nerve. Within 4 days of recovery the transport was progressively depressed to 22 and 21% in the proximal and distal direction, respectively.