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Alterations in Lipid Metabolism, Na + ,K + ‐ATPase Activity, and Tissue Water Content of Spinal Cord Following Experimental Traumatic Injury
Author(s) -
Faden Alan I.,
Chan Pak H.,
Longar Susan
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1987.tb05740.x
Subject(s) - spinal cord , spinal cord injury , cats , edema , chemistry , lipid metabolism , metabolism , fatty acid , medicine , anesthesia , endocrinology , biochemistry , psychiatry
Abstract: Traumatic spinal cord injury has recently been shown to cause a rapid increase in free fatty acids (FFAs) and lipid degradation in cats. The present studies report a more delayed, time‐dependent increase in FFAs and a concomitant decrease in phospholipids following traumatic spinal injury in rats. The largest percentage increases were found for polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachi‐donic acid. Associated with these changes were a reduction in the activity of Na + ,K + ‐ATPase and development of spinal cord edema. These findings support the hypothesis that traumatic spinal cord injury leads to delayed, as well as early, hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids, resulting in the liberation of FFAs. Such changes may contribute to secondary spinal cord injury either through direct effects on membranes or through the actions of secondary metabolic products such as the eicosanoids. The latter may cause tissue injury by contributing to the reduction in spinal cord blood flow or through inflammatory responses that follow trauma.