title: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate and electrolyte levels following experimental spinal cord injury.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), and chloride (C1-) levels were determined for 17 to 21 days following experimental spinal cord compression in cats. Laminectomies were performed at L-2 under general anesthesia with aseptic techniques. Paraplegia was produced by applying a 170-gm weight transdurally for 5 minutes. Significant increases in CSF lactate levels were observed on the first through ninth days post injury with peak levels (50% above normal) occurring at Day 5. The only significant postinjury CSF electrolyte changes were elevation in Ca++ concentration on Days 3, 9, 11, 13, and 15, elevation in K+ concentration on Days 9 and 11 and decline in C1- levels on the first day. The CSF K+ increase probably reflected cellular loss of K+ from damaged tissue whereas the Ca++ rise may have resulted from increased CSF protein levels. The prolonged elevation of CSF lactate indicates that tissue hypoxia plays a role in spinal cord compression paralysis, and that there is a continuing hypoxia of metabolically active spinal cord tissue for several days post injury.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002415:Cats; D002712:Chlorides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D007773:Lactates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011188:Potassium / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012964:Sodium / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D004573:Electrolytes; D007773:Lactates; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium