Effects of Neurotoxins on Brain Creatine Kinase Activity

The effects of ethylene oxide (EO), acrylamide, N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (bis-acrylamide), and methyl mercury chloride (MMC) on brain creatine kinase (CK) activity were examined in vivo. EO and acrylamide, both of which cause central–peripheral distal axonopathy, inhibited CK activity in the brain and spinal cord. On the other hand, neither bis-acrylamide, a nonneurotoxic analogue, nor MMC which causes neuronopathy affected brain CK activity significantly. The inhibition of CK may play a role in the pathogenesis of distal axonal degeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.