INCREASED CEREBRAL FREE-RADICAL PRODUCTION DURING THIAMINE-DEFICIENCY

Concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant glu tathione (GSH) was measured in thalamus and cortex after 13 and 14 day s of pyrithiamine-induced thiamine deficiency (PTD) in the rat. The co ncentration of ROS was significantly elevated in thalamus and cortex o n day 14 when righting reflexes were absent and spontaneous seizures o ccured. No significant changes in GSH concentration were observed in t halamus or cortex on either day of treatment. These findings suggest t hat increased formation of free radicals occurs during the more acute symptomatic stage of thiamine deficiency and may contribute to the str uctural damage described in this model of Wernicke's encephalopathy.