Age-related changes in oxygen consumption by guinea pig paramedian cortex.

Oxygen consumption by the paramedian cortex was measured in guinea pigs between 2 days of age and adulthood (i.e. greater than 50 days old) in an oxygen metabolic chamber in order to assess the age-related changes in oxygen metabolism in the developing brain. Brain slices of 2-10-day-old neonates exhibited the highest rate of oxygen utilization, with aging cortex exhibiting a linear decrease in oxygen metabolism. A plateau in oxygen utilization occurred between 40 and 50 days of age which was maintained throughout adulthood. These data indicate that the cortex of the guinea pig neonate demands a greater oxygen supply than that of the adult animal, which suggests that metabolic changes in oxygen utilization are developmentally related in the brain of the guinea pig.