Accumulation of acrolein-protein adducts after traumatic spinal cord injury

Reactive oxygen species and resultant lipid peroxidation (LPO) have been associated with central nervous system trauma. Acrolein (2-propenal) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) are the most toxic byproducts of LPO, with detrimental effects in various types of cells. In this study, we used immunoblotting techniques to detect the accumulation of protein-bound acrolein and HNE. We report that protein-bound acrolein and HNE were significantly increased in guinea pig spinal cord following a controlled compression injury. The acrolein and HNE protein-adducts increased in the damaged spinal cord as early as 4 h after injury, reached a peak at 24 h after injury, and remained at a significantly high level up to 7 days after injury. Such increase of protein adducts was also observed in the adjacent segments of the injury site beginning at 24 h post injury. These results suggest that products of lipid peroxidation, especially acrolein, may play a critical role in the secondary neuronal degeneration, which follows mechanical insults.