Measurement of cerebral blood flow in the pig by the Xe-133 clearance technique. Failure of the two-compartmental clearance model.

The Xe-133 clearance technique is used to measure cerebral blood flow in the pig, which often serves as an experimental animal for cardiovascular research. The clearance curves are fitted by a two-exponential model. However, the fitted parameters are incompatible with a two-compartmental model: the values found for the parameters depend on the length of the clearance curve analysed. The discrepancies are thought to be consequences of the heterogeneity of cerebral blood flow and of mathematical problems of parameter identification. The non-validity of the relative weight of the fast clearance component as an anatomical or functional parameter is demonstrated. The use of the mean time constant, mean transit time, mean decay constant and initial slope for determination of cerebral blood flow rates is discussed. The mean cerebral blood flow of the anaesthetized pig measured by the clearance technique is found to be lower than the blood flow measured by means of a flow probe around the common carotid artery (with the external carotid artery tied off). The existence of a significant arteriovenous shunt flow is postulated.