Relevance of the Metabolism of Membrane Lipids to Cerebral Vasospasm and Ischemic Brain Damage

Abstract

The structural and functional integrity of biomembrane is essential for a cell to maintain its life and activity. An anoxic-ischemic insult induces profound alterations in the cerebral metabolism, which would in all likelihood adversely influence the environment of the biomembrane, at the same time interrupting the metabolic pathways necessary to maintain its structural integrity. Membrane damage thus incurred may constitute one of the major pathomechanisms underlying ischemic brain damage. In fact, all of the hitherto investigated topics regarding the biochemical mechanisms of ischemic brain damage, such as the release of neurotransmitters, ATP synthesis in the mitochondria, protein synthesis, and regulation of ionic compositions in the extra- and intracellular fluids, are related to differing aspects of membrane functions (Siesjo 1982, Raichle 1984). Thus, interest has been focused on the effect of anoxic-ischemic insult on the metabolism of membrane lipids.