Effect of carbon dioxide on the utilization of brain capillary reserve and flow

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Microcirculation, Endothelium, and Lymphatics; (USA)

OSTI ID:6867164

Frankel, H; Dribben, J; Kissen, I; Gerlock, T; Weiss, H R ^[1]

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1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (USA)

This study investigated effects of increased arterial carbon dioxide on the brain capillary perfusion pattern. Conscious rats were exposed to a 0%, 8% or 12% CO{sub 2} in air gas mixture. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases and pH were recorded, and either regional cerebral blood flow or the percent of capillary volume/mm3 or number/mm2 perfused were determined in cortical, hypothalamic, pontine or medullary regions of the brain. Arterial PCO{sub 2} increased from 37 +/- 1 in control to 74 +/- 1 torr in the high CO{sub 2} group. A position linear relationship was found between cerebral blood flow and arterial PCO{sub 2} in all examined regions. Approximately half of the capillaries in the examined regions were perfused under normocapnic conditions. Increasing arterial PCO{sub 2} had no effect on the percent of the capillary bed perfused in the cortex or hypothalamus. However, there was a significant linear relationship between carbon dioxide tension and the percent of the microvasculature perfused in the hindbrain. The percent of capillaries/mm2 perfused increased significantly in the medulla (to 60 +/- 5%) and pons (70 +/- 4%) with 12% CO{sub 2} in air. These data suggest that carbon dioxide may have differential effects on diffusion distances affecting the hindbrain to a greater extent than the forebrain.

• OSTI ID: 6867164
• Journal Information: Microcirculation, Endothelium, and Lymphatics; (USA), Vol. 5:6; ISSN 0740-9451
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CARBON DIOXIDE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CEREBRAL CORTEX
BLOOD FLOW
BLOOD PRESSURE
CAPILLARIES
FLUORESCENCE
METABOLISM
PERFUSED TISSUES
RATS
SCINTILLATION COUNTING
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CEREBRUM
CHALCOGENIDES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
LUMINESCENCE
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RODENTS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology