Intracellular enzyme liberation in primate spinal cord injury.

Intracellular lysosomal and nonlysosomal enzymes, as well as tissue edema, were measured in spinal cords of monkeys up to 20 days following a 300 gm-cm open injury. Although edema was maximal between six hours and 11 days, enzyme elevation was delayed. Lysosomal enzyme acid cathepsin increased beginning at five days and the beta-glucuronidase and beta-glycerophosphatase increase began at 11 days. Nonlysosomal enzymes were either not elevated or showed a slight rise. These data suggest that edema, one of the secondary damaging factors in spinal injury, is not a result of release of these intracellular enzymes. Also it appears that intracellular enzymes do not participate in early secondary damaging processes in severe spinal injury.