Brain energy metabolism in global brain oedema.

Different degrees of severity in global brain oedema were induced by varying amounts of water intoxication (50, 100, 150, and 200 ml Aqua dest./kg b.wt. intravenously) in groups of six cats, which were functionally nephrectomized. Animals loaded with physiological saline and sham-operated served as controls. Two hours following the water load, the tissue concentrations of CrP, ATP, ADP, AMP, pyruvate, glucose, and lactate were determined by optical enzymatic analysis. The results show disturbances in brain energy metabolism dependent on the severity of the brain oedema. The high energy compounds and in consequence the ATP/ADP-ratio, and respectively the energy charge potential, fall in direct relationship to the severity of the brain oedema. Lactate and lactate-pyruvate ratio increase. The energy source of the cell, glucose as well as pyruvate, significantly falls in the group with severe brain oedema. The results of the brain energy metabolism were compared with our previous study concerning the brain water content, rCBF and CPP in global brain oedema (Meinig et al. 1973). The results show that the disturbances of energy metabolism are directly related to the rCBF and are not dependent on CPP over a wide range.