Correlation of cerebrospinal fluid serotonin and altered spinal cord blood flow in experimental trauma.

Serotonin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined at various time intervals following experimental spinal cord trauma and correlated with alterations in the intramedullary blood flow. At one hour after injury, a significant elevation of CSF serotonin was noted to parallel a marked reduction in white matter perfusion. The correlation between elevated CSF serotonin and decreased blood flow in the traumatized spinal cord suggests that serotonin may have pathogenetic importance relative to posttraumatic alterations in the intramedullary microcirculation. The possible role of serotonin in the pathophysiology of blood flow changes following experimental spinal cord injury are discussed as are the therapeutic implications.