PCO(2) and rate of formation of cerebrospinal fluid in the monkey

Abstract

Changes in cerebrospinal fluid formation rate (VF) with hypocapnia were measured by the ventriculocisternal perfusion technique in 24 rhesus monkeys anesthetized with nitrous oxide. In addition cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearence methods, Vf in control animals declined at a mean rate of 2.3 mul/min each hour during the last 4.5 h of a 7-h perfusion although variables known to effect Vf remained stable. Three hours after perfusion began, Vf of normocapnic controls was 41.4 mul/min +/- 5.4; CBF, 59P ML/100 G PER MIN. When Pco(2) was reduced to half of control, Vf fell to 35.6 mul/min +/- 6.3 and CBF fell by 27%. When Pco(2) was doubled, Vf fell to 33.1 mul/min +/- 5.3 and CBF increased threefold. The difference in Vf id significant only for the hypercapnic group (p=0.01). When animals were used as their own controls, three were no significant differences in Vf with hypercapnia compared to normocapnia. These results indicated that in the monkey variations of Pco(2) within broad physiologic limits, which are sufficient to cause large changes in CBF, have little effect of Vf.