Tissue lactate content and tissue PCO2 in complete brain ischaemia: implications for compartmentation of H+.
It has recently been proposed by Kraig et al. that H+ is compartmentalized during complete ischaemia, with glial cells of hyperglycemic animals becoming excessively acidic (pH approximately 5.2), compared to neurons (pH approximately 6.2). In part, the evidence for that is a discontinuous delta PCO2/delta lactate relationship, with PCO2 precipitously increasing to a constant value at tissue lactate contents exceeding 20 mmol kg-1. Since the previous study was performed in hypercapnic animals, and encompassed only a small number of animals, we studied the relationship between ischaemic tissue lactate content and tissue PCO2 over the lactate range 8-49 mmol kg-1. Tissue glucose content was varied by glucose injection and ischaemia was induced by decapitation. Tissue PCO2 was measured in vitro at 37 degrees C on excised tissue samples. The results showed a continuous rise in tissue PCO2 over the entire range of lactate concentrations measured, with maximal values around 300 mm Hg. The results thus fail to reveal a discontinuous delta PCO2/delta lactate relationship, with PCO2 increasing to a constant value. The implication of the results for the hypothesis of pH compartmentation is discussed.
Ekholm
A
A
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Lund, Sweden.
Katsura
K
K
Siesjö
B K
BK
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism*; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D007773:Lactates; D011522:Protons; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid