title: Comparison of intracranial pressure measured in the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum of the rat.
abstract: In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement in rats by insertion of a miniature ICP probe in the parenchyma of the cerebellum. A comparison was made between the ICP values measured simultaneously in the parenchyma of the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum. In order to obtain a wide range of ICP, animals were subjected to a severe closed head injury (CHI), a moderate CHI or to a sham operation. ICP values ranged from 0.8 to 43.9 mmHg. After 15 min stabilisation the first measurement was taken and followed by a second measurement 25 min after onset to allow comparison of ICP changes at the two implantation sites. Linear regression analysis showed a highly significant correlation at 15 min: Y = 0.919X + 0.655 (R(2) = 0.977), and at 25 min: Y = 0.931X + 0.698 (R(2) = 0.976). The differences in ICP measurement between cerebellar and cerebral site were not significantly different from zero at both time points. Altman-Bland plots showed that the difference in ICP readings between the two locations could differ maximally by 5.3 mmHg. The largest differences were detected when high ICP values were recorded. We conclude that in rats the ICP measurement in the cerebellum is comparable to the ICP measurement in the cerebral cortex. The cerebellar ICP can be used as a valuable alternative during experimental procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium. marina.pieters@uza.be
authors.forename: Servan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rooker
authors.forename: Geofrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Visscher
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Deuren
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgers
authors.forename: Philippe G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Jorens
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reneman
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Rossem
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verlooy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014160:Transducers, Pressure