Xanthine oxidoreductase and neurological sequelae of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Neurological sequelae (NS) is a common complication of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and structural alterations of myelin basic protein have been proven to initiate immunological reactions leading to NS. To determine whether xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) participates in the pathophysiology of CO-mediated NS, we examined myelin basic protein in CO poisoned XOR-depleted rats and performed radial maze studies to evaluate the alteration of cognitive function. Carbon monoxide poisoned XOR-depleted rats did not exhibit myelin basic protein alterations or impaired cognitive function, both found in CO poisoned control rats. These results indicate that XOR is essential to the pathological cascade of CO-mediated NS.