Investigations on vasogenic and cytotoxic brain edema, comparing results from X-ray microanalysis and flame photometry.

In these studies vasogenic brain edema has been induced by implantation of rat glioma cells RGI 2.2 into BD-IX rats while cytotoxic edema pas produced by permanent regional ischemia in the mongolian gerbil. In the gerbil sodium concentration was raised from 201 meq/kg d.w. (dry weight) [p/b (peak/background) = 0] to 269 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 0.25; 2 hours) and 651 meq/kg d.w. [p/b = 0.71; 24 hours), whereas potassium concentration decreased from 373 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 1.69) to 337 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 1.65) and 152 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 0.53). In the rat tumor sodium and potassium concentrations were 279 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 0.44) and 510 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 1.94). Non-tumorous tissue contained 237 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 0) and 517 meq/kg d.w. (p/b = 1.98). In addition X-ray microanalysis could show that chlorine behaves like sodium, whereas the concentration of phosphorus and sulphur remains nearly constant. X-ray microanalysis in this case proved to be useful in the localization and quantification of different elements. The main disadvantage, however, is the reduced sensitivity for light elements, e.g. sodium, which cannot be determined in normal brain.