White matter ischaemia

Brain and spinal cord while matter are vulnerable to the effects of ischaem ia. Reduction of the energy supply leads to a cascade of events including d epolarization, influx of Na+ and the subsequent reverse operation of the me mbrane protein the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger which ultimately terminates in intrac ellular Ca2+ overload and irreversible axonal injury. Various points along the white matter damage cascade could be specifically targeted as a potenti al means of inhibiting the development of axonal irreversible injury. (C) 1 999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.