Simultaneous and continuous measurement of choroid plexus blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid production: effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

Using laser-Doppler flowmetry during ventriculocisternal perfusion with inulin-[14C]carboxylic acid, choroid plexus blood flow (CPBF) and CSF production were measured simultaneously in rats during periods of 3 h. Blood flow and CSF production decreased only slightly during control experiments. The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) was studied at different concentrations of the peptide given either intraventricularly or intravenously. Intraventricular administration of VIP (10(-9) or 10(-7) M) resulted in a decrease in CSF production of up to 30%, while CPBF increased by 20%, also demonstrating that CSF production and blood flow are not directly coupled in the choroid plexus. When infused intravenously, VIP (10 or 100 pmol/kg/min) increased CPBF, an effect partly antagonized at higher concentrations owing to a VIP-induced systemic hypotension. No effect of VIP on CSF production could be seen with intravenous administration.