[Molecular diffusion/cerebrospinal fluid flow theory].
OBJECTIVE
To review the fundamental aspects of the theory of the molecular flow/ cerebrospinal flux described recently and it can explained a group of events in the physiology of the cerebrospinal fluid and the physiopathology of neurological diseases.


METHODS
This theory was based on the postulate that a decrease of the flux rate of the cerebrospinal fluid was accompanied by an increment of the protein concentration in it and in the nervous system tissue. The increment of the protein transport from the blood to the cerebrospinal fluid not require structural changes or an increase of permeability. The reibergram or Reiber's quotient diagram, with the discriminatory hyperbolic function with its theoretical basis and its clinical relevance confirm the acceptance of the present theory. This theory was based on the first and second Fick's diffusion laws The increment of the molecular diffusion is the cause of the non-linear decrease of the cerebrospinal flux rate because of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
This theory explain that an increase of the albumin quotient does not means a morphologic change on the barrier structures. The change in the cerebrospinal flux rate it has been considered the principal modulator of the protein concentration in cerebrospinal fluid in pathological conditions characterized by a blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier dysfunction.
Laboratorio Central de Líquido Cefalorraquídeo, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Miguel Enríquez, Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana, Ciudad Habana, Cuba. adorta@infomed.sld.cu
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Dorta-Contreras
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D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001825:Body Fluid Compartments; D002420:Cauda Equina; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010539:Permeability
D000418:Albumins; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins