White matter ischaemia

Abstract 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.