White matter ischaemia

Brain and spinal cord white matter are vulnerable to the effects of ischaemia. Reduction of the energy supply leads to a cascade of events including depolarization, influx of Na(+) and the subsequent reverse operation of the membrane protein the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger which ultimately terminates in intracellular Ca(2+) overload and irreversible axonal injury. Various points along the white matter damage cascade could be specifically targeted as a potential means of inhibiting the development of axonal irreversible injury.