Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure in dogs due to coronary agents.

Narcotised mongrel dogs were used to examine the effect of coronary drugs on the cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CFP). An increase in CFP, although of varying degree, was observed for all compounds tested. The reason for this effect is suggested to be a direct dilatation of the cerebral blood vessels, leading to an increase in intracranial blood volume. It could be established that the increase in CFP is not due to changes in cardiac or circulation parameters, nor to effects of the volume or osmolarity of the test substance solutions. Thus, the headaches which occur following treatment with dipyridamole or organic nitrates cannot be explained in terms of an increase in CFP.