Local cerebral glucose utilization in fetal sheep exposed to noise.

Rate of local cerebral glucose utilization in fetal sheep was measured in conditions of normal laboratory ambient sound (65 to 70 dB sound pressure levels) and broadband noise (105 and 120 dB sound pressure levels) delivered by two earphones situated on the abdominal surface of the ewe. Broadband noise had neither a visible effect on the ewe nor specific effects on the fetal arterial pH, PaO2, PaCO2, and plasma glucose concentration. However, glucose utilization of many cerebral structures was elevated in noise-exposed fetuses.