The effects of injecting the calcium-selective ionophore, ionomycin, i
nto myelinated tracts in the dorsal columns of adult rat spinal cords
were examined electron microscopically. In vivo, ionomycin induced a p
rimary vesicular demyelination, together with a variable degree of axo
nal degeneration, in a dose-dependent manner The results are consisten
t with previous demonstrations that mature oligodendrocytes are more v
ulnerable to alterations in levels of [Ca2+](i) than other glial cells
. We speculate that demyelination induced by ionomycin in vivo occurs
as a result of direct activation of endogenous Ca2+-dependent enzymes
and/or as a consequence of oligodendrocyte injury mediated via astrocy
tes.