[Intensity of 14C-2-acetate incorporation into guinea pig brain and spinal cord phospholipids and cholesterol under normal conditions and following triorthocresylphosphate poisoning].

A severe form of chronic intoxication was caused in guinea pigs by a single intracutaneous inoculation of triorthocresyl phosphate (TOCP); the intensity of acetate-2(14)C incorporation into the brain stem and spinal cord phospholipids and cholesterol was investigated in vivo. In paralytic stage of the disease incorporation of 14C into phospholipids and cholesterol was found to be markedly depressed; the inhibition of the synthesis of these lipids was observed not only in the most vulnerable lumbo-sacral region of the spinal cord, but also in the brain stem. This finding is in favour of the systemic character of lipid metabolism disorder in the central nervous system and indicates alteration of oligodendrocyte metabolism caused by TOCP.