Cerebral and blood glucose in central oxygen poisoning.

Studies were carried out to determine the effect of high oxygen pressure (OHP) on brain and blood glucose. OHP increased cerebral glucose in mice killed at various stages of oxygen toxicity. This included times which corresponded to 75% and 100% of the CT50, the hyperactive state, and at seizure onset. Blood glucose also was increased but only when mice were exposed to oxygen for times which produced stress-related responses. These were at 100% of the CT50,during hyperactivity, and at the onset of seizures. The increase in cerebral glucose was due to the increased oxygen pressure and not to the pressure per se. Adrenalectomy blocked the oxygen-induced increase in blood glucose but not in cerebral glucose. Disulfiram, an effective oxygen protectant, markedly increased both brain and blood glucose.