[Guinea pig brain and spinal cord phospholipids and cholesterol in tricresyl phosphate poisoning].

Chronic intoxication of guinea pigs was induced by intracutaneous inoculation of tricresylphosphate (TCP). The brain stem and spinal cord total phospholipids and total, free and esterified cholesterol were determined during the severe neuroparalytic stage of TCP intoxication. The content of phosphilipids and of total cholesterol was not altered, but cholesterol esters appeared to accumulate both in the brain stem and the spinal cord. Cholesterol esters are characteristic products of degraded myelin sheaths.