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C Dettmers

Publications and source records attributed to C Dettmers.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Quantitative comparison of functional magnetic resonance imaging with positron emission tomography using a force-related paradigm.

The intention of our study was to compare functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with positron emission tomography (PET). We used the same force-related motor paradigm for both techniques, which allows for quantification of stimulus intensity. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was determined with PET in six male subjects (age 30 +/- 3) using the slow bolus injection technique and oxygen-15-labeled water. Scans were collected during six different conditions: at rest and during repetitive Morse key press at 1 Hz, with the right index finger at a range of different forces. In a second series of experiments fMRI data were acquired under similar conditions in six volunteers in a single slice parallel to and 51 +/- 3 mm dorsal to the anterior and posterior commissure (AC-PC). A conventional 1.5-T clinical magnetic resonance (MR) system and the FLASH technique were used. The data obtained in both series of experiments were subjected to the same statistical analyses. Statistical parametric maps (SPM) were generated by two different approaches: a correlation between peak force and rCBF or fMRI signal and using a categorical comparison of force exerted with rest. SPMs were coregistered with anatomical MR images. PET and fMRI measurements demonstrated activation in the primary motor cortex (M1) and posterior supplementary motor cortex in all subjects. Correlation analysis demonstrated foci in the M1 in four subjects with PET and in only one subject with fMRI. Locations of activation peaks differed by 2 to 8 mm between imaging methods. The relationship between fMRI signal or rCBF and peak force was logarithmic. The maximum increase in fMRI signal was 5.0% +/- 0.9 at 60% of the maximum voluntary contraction while the corresponding increase in rCBF was 13.7% +/- 1.2. The ratio of percentage rCBF change to percentage fMRI signal change was very similar across all force levels. The high degree of correspondence between PET and fMRI data provides good cross-validation for the two techniques.

Adult↗

Comparison of regional cerebral blood flow with transcranial magnetic stimulation at different forces.

This study's objective was to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) within the primary motor cortex (M1) and to compare it with thresholds of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyographic recordings during exertion of different force levels with the right index finger. Quantitative electromyographic recordings, TMS, and positron emission tomography scans were performed while five and six volunteers, respectively, pressed a Morse key repetitively or with constant force with the right hand at five different force levels: 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60% of the individual's maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Although at 5% MVC muscle activity was restricted to the first dorsal interosseus muscle, superficial finger flexors, and extensors, there was progressive involvement of proximal muscles during finger flexion with increasing force. rCBF increased logarithmically in the contralateral M1 with increasing force. In ipsilateral M1, rCBF decreased at 5% MVC and then increased logarithmically at higher force levels. TMS thresholds in the contralateral hemisphere declined logarithmically to reach a plateau at high force levels. The threshold in the ipsilateral hemisphere decreased slightly at high force levels. The logarithmic increase of rCBF and decrease of TMS thresholds in the contralateral hemisphere suggest related underlying physiological phenomena; increased cortical synaptic activity and increased excitability. It suggested that the pronounced ipsilateral rCBF alterations reflect transcallosal inhibition and are more prominent during repetitive movements (as used in the positron emission tomography study) than during the generation of a constant force (as exerted during TMS).

Adult↗

Human cerebral activity with increasing inspiratory force: a study using positron emission tomography.

Human cerebral activity with increasing inspiratory force: a study using positron emission tomography. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(3): 1295-1305, 1996.--The major aim of this study was to use positron emission tomography (PET) to assess dose-dependent effects of inspiratory loads on relative regional cerebral blood flow as an indication of neuronal activation and recruitment. Six normal men underwent H2 15O-PET scanning during unloaded breathing and with external inspiratory loads (generating mouth pressures of -5, -10, and -15 cmH2O); positive-pressure ventilation against relaxed respiratory muscles acted as control. During unloaded breathing, the supplementary motor area was significantly activated. With the addition of the smallest load, activations also occurred in the right premotor area and bilaterally in the superolateral motor cortex (MI) in areas previously shown to be activated with deeper breathing. There was little further change in these areas with greater loads. Additional force-related activations occurred in the inferolateral sensorimotor cortex, parietal cortex, and midbrain/hypothalamus. The results suggest that volitionally induced increases in inspiratory muscle force are achieved via a complex integration of neuronal activations in cortical and subcortical regions associated with motor control.

Adult↗

Contralateral cerebellar diaschisis 7 hours after MCA-occlusion in primates.

2,3,5-triphenyltetrazoliumchloride (TTC) as an indicator of mitochondrial function in combination with regional cerebral blood flow measurements was used in six baboons 6.9 +/- 1.2 h after permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. Staining with TTC was compared with blood flow data obtained during normocapnia using the microsphere method. Five animals showed a focal area of unstained tissue in the left middle cerebral artery territory. Mean blood flow in the unstained area was 28.3 +/- 15.4 ml min-1 100 g-1. Five of 6 animals showed a significant decrease of contralateral cerebellar blood flow in the presence of normal TTC staining. We conclude that at this early stage of infarction contralateral cerebellar diaschisis is caused by functional deactivation.

Animals↗

Relation between cerebral activity and force in the motor areas of the human brain.

1. Positron emission tomography (PET) studies were performed in six normal right-handed male volunteers (age 30 +/- 3) to investigate the relationship between cerebral activation as measured by relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and force peak exerted during right index finger flexion. The purpose was to determine in which central motor structures activity is directly correlated with force for repeatedly executed movements. 2. Twelve PET rCBF measurements were performed in each volunteer with the use of H2(15)O as a perfusion tracer. Volunteers pressed a Morse-key repetitively with their right index finger for 2 min while lying in a supine position in the PET camera. The device was fitted with strain gauges to measure the force peaks exerted upon it. Scans were collected twice each at five different levels of exerted force peak and in a resting state. Individual and group results were co-registered with anatomic magnetic resonance images (MRI). 3. Group analysis revealed four major regions with a high correlation between rCBF and different degrees of repetitively exerted force peaks. One was located in the arm area of the left lateral surface [primary somatosensory and motor cortex (SI, MI)]. The second area was situated on the left mesial surface of the brain, posterior to the anterior commissure (AC) and encompassing the first gyrus dorsal to the cingulate sulcus. This area is thought to be homologous to the posterior part of the supplementary motor area (SMA) in the monkey. The third area was the dorsal bank of the posterior cingulate sulcus. The fourth area showing a significant correlation between rCBF and force peaks was in the cerebellar vermis. 4. Individual PET data were co-registered with each individual's MRI in order to identify precisely the locations of structures demonstrating a positive correlation between rCBF and force peak. Activated areas on the mesial surface consisted of the same two distinct regions seen in the group data. In three subjects the focus on the lateral surface of the cortex appeared to extend into the caudal premotor area; in two it extended into the rostral part of the superior parietal area. In no subject did blood flow in the anterior cingulate areas and anterior SMA show a correlation with the force exerted. Cerebellar correlations were present in the vermis in all subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Organization and reorganization of the human cortex].

The potential mechanisms underlying recovery and reorganisation of the motor cortex are described on the basis of functional imaging studies. These were performed in normal subjects and patients over the past years by the Hammersmith group. The mechanisms of motor learning are discussed and altered patterns of activation after suffering from stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and amputation are described. The potential role of ispilateral cortical representation in the primary motor cortex, as well as the role of opercular premotor cortex, insular cortex and inferior parietal cortex are discussed.

Brain Diseases↗

Carotid artery stenosis and tachyarrhythmias: regional cerebral blood flow during high-rate ventricular pacing after one vessel occlusion in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of hypotensive tachycardias on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the presence of significant carotid stenosis. The experiments were performed in 57 spontaneously breathing rats during arterial normoxia and normocapnia anesthetized with thiobarbital. CBF was determined with radiolabeled microspheres during control conditions (normofrequent sinus rhythm, normotension; group A; n = 15), during high-rate left ventricular pacing (660-840 ppm) at normotension (group B1; n = 13), borderline hypotension (group B2; n = 15) and severe hypotension (group B3; n = 7). In addition, CBF measurements were performed during borderline hypotension induced by hemorrhage (group C; n = 7). Global CBF was 1.09 +/- 0.29 ml g-1 min-1 in group A, 0.93 +/- 0.40 in group B1, 0.68 +/- 0.31 in group B2 (P < 0.05 vs. A), 0.42 +/- 0.16 in group B3 (P < 0.05 vs. A) and 0.83 +/- 0.2 in group C. The highest CBF values were found in the cerebellum (A; 1.43 +/- 0.5 ml g-1 min-1) and the lowest in the postocclusive tissue of the ipsilateral hemisphere (A; 0.74 +/- 0.2 ml g-1 min-1). In all groups a 15% mean CBF reduction in the right hemispherical cerebrum in comparison to the left hemisphere was observed (P < 0.01). In contrast, hemispherical CBF of the cerebellum did not differ. The CBF blood pressure relationship shifted to lower CBF values, the threshold of CBF regulation shifted to higher blood pressure values in the tissue regions distal to the occluded vessel during hypotensive tachycardias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Specific recognition of arteriovenous malformations using Xenon-133 RCBF technique.

With respect to the methodology of the atraumatic Xenon-133 technique the problem whether or not the proposed and introduced arterial artifact (AA) truely represents radiation from intravascular volume and to what extent it affects regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) calculation is unresolved. We performed rCBF measurements in 22 patients with angiomas to clarify this issue in those patients known to have pathologically enlarged intracranial vessels. P4--the parameter suggested to represent the AA--as well as the conventional blood flow parameter for gray matter (F1) were compared to those of 50 volunteers using four criteria of abnormality: 1. intrahemispheric distribution, 2. interhemispheric differences of homologous detector pairs, 3. differences of mean hemispheric values, 4. visual evaluation of CBF maps. 19 of the 22 patients with angioma fulfilled at least two of the four criteria of abnormality, in comparison to 1 of 50 volunteers. P4's sensitivity for detecting angiomas proved to be higher (86%) than the perfusion parameters of gray matter. Focal increase of P4 proved to be highly specific for the presence of arteriovenous malformation (AVM, specifity 98%). A true arterial artifact exists in most instances in the presence of an AVM. Disregarding AA in the algorithm for calculation rCBF leads to an artificial overestimation of tissue flow in the region of the AVM.

Adult↗

Time course of myocardial and cerebral blood flow during stable but hemodynamically compromising ventricular tachycardias. Laboratory investigations.

Myocardial and cerebral blood flow were determined with radiolabeled microspheres in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats during sinus rhythm and during stable but hemodynamically compromising ventricular tachycardias. In addition, in 10 animals the measurements were performed at hypotension induced by exsanguination. In controls (n = 10), myocardial and cerebral blood flow were 5.14 +/- 0.6 and 1.03 +/- 0.3 ml/g per minute, respectively. The range of myocardial blood flow values was markedly enlarged after onset of tachycardia induced by epicardial pacing. The mean values of myocardial blood flow were 5.80 +/- 1.9 ml/g per minute (n.s.) after 1 min and 7.46 +/- 3.9 ml/g per minute (n.s.) after 5 min. Cerebral blood flow, however, significantly decreased after 1 min (0.57 +/- 0.1 ml/g per minute, P < 0.01) and after 5 min (0.71 +/- 0.3 ml/per minute, P < 0.05). In contrast, 1 min after exsanguination myocardial blood flow significantly decreased (4.03 +/- 1.5 ml/g per minute, P < 0.05) and recovered after 5 min (6.06 +/- 1.2 ml/g per minute, n.s.) Cerebral blood flow was below control levels 1 min (0.70 +/- 0.2 ml/g per minute, P < 0.05) after onset of hypotension due to exsanguination and returned to normal values with the next 4 min (0.90 +/- 1 ml/g per minute, n.s.). The results suggest that stable but hemodynamically compromising ventricular tachycardias markedly affect cerebral blood flow, whereas in most cases myocardial blood flow is maintained within normal ranges, or even increases. An augmented myocardial autoregulation can be concluded from the autoregulatory index. This maintainance of regulatory ability might be due to the increase of myocardial oxygen consumption at decreased coronary perfusion pressure during tachycardias. In contrast, during hypovolemic hypotension, myocardial as well as cerebral blood flow decreased. During stable but hemodynamically compromising ventricular tachycardias, cerebral blood flow initially drops drastically and recovers slowly over the next 5 min. This finding contrasts with the results of hypovolemic and drug-induced hypotension models.

Animals↗

Immersion and perfusion staining with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) compared to mitochondrial enzymes 6 hours after MCA-occlusion in primates.

2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) is commonly applied in rodents and cats as a marker of infarcted tissue as early as 20 min after the onset of focal ischaemia. At this stage it is suggested that it reflects hypoperfusion rather than failure of respiratory chain. Immersion of brain slices in TTC solution is preferable in comparison to perfusion with TTC in order to ensure, that enough TTC enters the post-occlusion tissue. We compared immersion technique versus perfusion technique 6 h after permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery in 18 baboons. In addition, we assessed the function of the respiratory chain enzymes of stained and unstained tissue in three baboons. The immersion technique revealed an absence of TTC staining limited to subcortical structures in two animals. In seven experiments TTC indicated involvement of almost the entire MCA territory. The extent of the ischaemic lesion indicated by the perfusion technique was very similar. Tissue samples from the presumed infarcted areas revealed normal mitochondrial function. We conclude that perfusion and immersion technique do not cause significant different ischaemic delineation 6 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion. TTC staining appears to be a reliable method of evaluating volume of infarction in primates. Furthermore, absence of TTC staining 6 h after stroke onset is caused by energy or oxygen depletion rather than by mitochondrial injury.

Animals↗

Reduction of cerebral blood flow with induced tachycardia in rats and in patients with coronary artery disease and premature ventricular contractions.

A reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was observed in experimental studies in rats immediately after the onset of parasystolic rhythm or with stable, but haemodynamically compromising, tachycardias. Based on these data and with a view to studying the effects of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) on the cerebral circulation in humans, CBF was measured using the 133-Xenon inhalation method in 24 age matched human controls (group A1: age 58.5 +/- 6.2 years; group A2: 52.2 +/- 7.8 years) in nine coronary artery disease (CAD) patients without PVCs (B), in 11 CAD patients with frequent PVCs (> 300.h-1) (C) and in nine patients, after exclusion of CAD by angiography, also with frequent PVCs (> 300.h-1) (D). Holter monitoring was performed during the CBF measurement. CBF determined in the human control groups A1 and A2 was 79.9 +/- 9.9 ml.100 g.-1 min-1 and 81.5-13.0 ml. 100 g-1 min-1, respectively. CBF was 74.1 +/- 13.6 ml . 100 g.-1 min-1 (P = 0.267 vs A1) in group B, 65.8 +/- 11.8 ml.100 g-1 min-1 (P = 0.004 vs A1) in group C and 74.2 +/- 15.6 ml.100 g.-1 min-1 (P = 0.218 vs A2) in group D. The significant reduction of CBF in CAD patients with frequent PVCs suggests that arrhythmias have a significant impact on CBF. Non-CAD patients with frequent PVCs did not show significant CBF decreases in comparison with controls. One can hypothetize that an impairment of electrical postextrasystolic potentiation, due to premature ventricular depolarization, and hence myocardial dysfunction leads to CBF reduction in CAD patients. The CBF reduction with CAD could also reflect concomitant coronary and cerebral arteriosclerosis.

Aged↗

Myocardial and cerebral hemodynamics during tachyarrhythmia-induced hypotension in the rat.

BACKGROUND: The different vulnerabilities of heart and brain to hypotension and hypoxia have been discussed. Hemorrhagic or cardiogenic hypotension appears to cause greater cerebral lesions than drug-induced hypotension. The present model was established to evaluate myocardial blood flow (MBF) and function of the heart and cerebral blood flow (CBF) during tachyarrhythmias and to characterize the capacity of blood flow regulation in the heart and brain during tachycardia-induced borderline hypotension. METHODS AND RESULTS: MBF and CBF were determined with radiolabeled microspheres. Coronary and central venous oxygen tensions were measured to estimate myocardial and cerebral oxygen consumption (MVO2 and CVO2). Measurements were performed in 62 Sprague-Dawley rats during sinus rhythm and high-rate left ventricular pacing and after hemorrhage. In control rats, MBF and CBF were 5.08 +/- 1.07 and 1.09 +/- 0.29 mL.g-1.min-1. MBF increased (7.21 +/- 1.98 mL.g-1.min-1, P < .05), whereas CBF decreased (0.99 +/- 0.29 mL.g-1.min-1, P = NS) during normotensive high-rate pacing. MBF and CBF dropped to 4.27 +/- 2.24 mL.g-1.min-1 (P = NS) and 0.68 +/- 0.29 mL.g-1.min-1 (P < .05) during pacing-induced borderline hypotension and decreased further during severe hypotension (1.77 +/- 0.81 mL.g-1.min-1, P < .01; 0.45 +/- 0.18 mL.g-1.min-1, P < .01). During borderline hypotension due to hemorrhage, MBF and CBF were 4.05 +/- 0.95 mL.g-1.min-1 (P = NS) and 0.71 +/- 0.23 mL.g-1.min-1 (P < .05). MVO2 and CVO2 were 72.7 +/- 15.4 and 12.7 +/- 3.3 mL.100 g-1.min-1 in control rats. MVO2 increased during normotensive pacing (100.3 +/- 27.4 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P = NS). Mean MVO2 was reduced during pacing-induced borderline hypotension (64.1 +/- 35.6 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P = NS) and severe hypotension (29.8 +/- 15.4 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P < .05). CVO2 decreased in correlation to CBF. Coronary and cerebrovascular resistance and autoregulation indexes indicated a maintenance of MBF regulation and a failure of CBF regulation during borderline hypotensive tachycardias. These results show a dissociation of MBF and CBF after onset of hypotensive tachycardias. Thus, brain tissue appears to be jeopardized at an earlier stage than myocardial muscle during tachyarrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed hypotension model is suitable to analyze tachyarrhythmia-induced hemodynamic changes and end-organ perfusion in the presence of myocardial dysfunction. It has the potential to test therapeutic strategies in the treatment of tachycardias.

Animals↗

[Cerebral circulation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic valve diseases].

The present study was performed in order to investigate the effect of dilated cardiomyopathy and severe aortic valve disease on cerebral blood flow. Cerebral perfusion was determined in 39 healthy volunteers representing two control groups of different age (77.7 +/- 8.7; 79.7 +/- 8.1 ml/100 g/min), in 7 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (64.0 +/- 4.7 ml/100 g/min), in 11 patients with severe aortic stenosis (71.1 +/- 14.8 ml/100 g/min), and in 6 patients with severe aortic regurgitation (54.6 +/- 5.8 ml/100 g/min). Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with the 133Xenon inhalation method. Cerebral blood flow in severe aortic regurgitation patients (p = 0.006) was markedly and significantly reduced versus controls, whereas in dilated cardiomyopathy patients (p = 0.197) and in patients with severe aortic stenosis (p = 0.111) cerebral blood flow was not significantly reduced. A chronic adaptation of cerebral blood flow to the profound reduction of cardiac output is assumed in dilated cardiomyopathy patients. The collapsing pulse and the maximal reduction of mean arterial blood pressure in severe aortic regurgitation patients cause the reduction of autoregulatory capacity of cerebral blood flow with subsequent decrease of brain perfusion. Measurement of cerebral blood flow appears to be suitable for evaluation of perfusion deficits due to cardiac abnormalities. It provides an additional parameter for estimating the indication of valve replacement in patients with aortic valve disease.

Adult↗

[Intermittent focal cerebral ischemia in hypotension due to pacemaker syndrome].

A pacemaker syndrome manifested as transient sensoric aphasia in a 68-year-old woman with a VVI-pace-maker implanted after SA-block. The attack occurred during long-term blood pressure recording and Holter monitoring. Borderline hypotension was documented during ventricular pacing which induced a retrograde excitation of the atrium. Clinical investigations excluded any intracranial abnormality, any source of embolism or stenosis of extra- and intracranial cerebral arteries. Cerebral blood flow measurements revealed a significant increase during pacing at elevated heart rate. Therefore, a device for AV-sequential pacing was implanted and basic pacing rate was elevated. The present case report indicates that focal and not only global cerebral ischemia can be produced by an impairment of systemic hemodynamics due to hypotension and a pacemaker syndrome. Improvement of cerebral blood flow during pacing is an unexpected finding contrasting with the concept of autoregulation. In addition, pacemaker implantation should be discussed in patients with transient cerebral perfusion deficits if an improvement of cerebral blood flow is documented along with rising heart rate.

Aged↗

Sympathetic skin response abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The sympathetic skin response (SSR) was evaluated in 25 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to assess for involvement of the autonomic nervous system. Twenty-two age-matched normals and 6 patients with muscular dystrophy served as controls. The SSR was intact in all normal volunteers and all patients with muscular dystrophy. The mean SSR latency in the ALS patients was prolonged compared to that of normals (2.29 +/- 0.28 versus 2.13 +/- 0.16 s, P < 0.05). The SSR was absent in one or both legs of 10 ALS patients (40%). Absence or abnormal latency of SSR in patients with ALS without clinical findings of autonomic failure suggests involvement of the autonomic nervous system in addition to the motor system.

Adult↗

Blood flow and clinical course in patients with ischemic stroke without cerebrospecific therapy.

To evaluate the course of cerebral tissue perfusion in patients with acute focal cerebral ischemia of the supratentorial compartment regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured on day 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 in 132 patients using the 133 Xenon stationary inhalation technique. Ischemic events of the brainstem and hemorrhagic complications were excluded. The clinical status was evaluated using a modified Mathew score. In 34 patients no hemodilution, anti-edema therapy, or Ca(++)-antagonists were used but otherwise best medical therapy was applied. These patients represented the so called "natural course" of cerebral ischemia. In 30/34 patients on day 0 (within 16 hours after onset of symptoms) focal flow abnormalities were found in the involved side. In 9 of these 30 patients and in 1 of the remaining ischemia was observed in the contralateral side. rCBF above normal (relative luxury perfusion) despite pathologic neurologic findings was observed in 8/34 patients on day 3-7. Eight patients presented on day 3-7 with normal flow which later became ischemic again without evidence of another symptomatic episode. Correlation between severity of clinical findings and actual rCBF was low from day 3 to 7 but close on day 0. From day 14-21 hemispheric CBF correlated well with the total neurologic score but focal clinical findings had a lower correlation with focal flow as compared to day 0 and day 28. Contralateral ischemia was never found after day 14. In 5 other cases with "natural course" described above, a transitory decrease of rCBF below the initial ischemia level was found between day 3 and 14.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

CO2 reactivity in the ischaemic core, penumbra, and normal tissue 6 hours after acute MCA-occlusion in primates.

Testing vasoreactivity with CO2 or Diamox is a common diagnostic procedure for the study of haemodynamics in stroke patients. CO2 reactivity (CO2R) was tested in 5 baboons six hours after permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in order to attain new insights into interpretation of vasoreactivity tests. Using the microsphere method, cerebral blood flow (CBF) was determined in the various vascular territories as well as in the centre of the ischemia, the penumbra and the remaining MCA-tissue. CBF decreased significantly in the affected MCA in all animals and in addition in the contralateral cerebellum in one animal (p < 0.05). In addition, the left anterior cerebral artery (ACA) demonstrated a similar decrease. During hypercapnia CBF increased in all areas with the exception of the left, occluded MCA territory. Thus CO2 enhanced the difference between ischaemic and non-ischaemic tissue (i.e., tissue with diaschisis). Mean CO2 R was 3.37 ml/100 g/min/mmHg in the right MCA, 0.16 in the left. While the left ACA demonstrated a decreased perfusion during normocapnia in a similar range to the MCA territory, only CO2R was able to identify precisely the territory of the occluded vessel. CO2 R was zero or negative in the ischaemic core, close to zero in the penumbra and profoundly decreased in the remaining MCA tissue. The overall CO2 R of the MCA was almost zero, suggesting vasoparalysis in response to hypercapnia in the core and penumbra and exhausted CO2 R even in non-infarcted, non-penumbral tissue. One animal displayed a negative CO2 R equivalent to an intracerebral steal-phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PET study of changes in local brain hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism after unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion in baboons.

Local cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism were measured by positron emission tomography (PET) with the oxygen-15 (15O) steady-state method in baboons, immediately before (T0), 1 (T1), and 3-4 (T2) h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). At T1, there was a marked fall in both cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the CBF/cerebral blood volume (CBV) ratio in the occluded territory; these changes were sustained at T2, indicating stable reduction in cerebral perfusion pressure and lack of spontaneous reperfusion within this time range. Compared with preocclusion conditions, the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in the occluded territory was elevated at both T1 and T2, indicative of a persistent oligemia/ischemia for up to 3 h after MCAO. At T2, however, this OEF increase had lessened, concomitantly with a decline in cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2). This impairment of oxidative metabolism occurred earlier in the deep, compared with the cortical, MCA territories; in the latter, the CMRO2 was essentially preserved at T1 and only moderately reduced at T2, possibly suggesting prolonged viability. Finally, no significant changes in CBF or CMRO2 were observed in the contralateral MCA territory in this time range after MCAO. Despite methodological limitations (mainly partial volume effects related to PET imaging, which may have resulted in an underestimation of true changes and an overlooking of heterogeneous changes) our study demonstrates the feasibility of the combined PET-MCAO paradigm in baboons; this experimental approach should be valuable in investigating the pathophysiology and therapy of acute stroke.

Animals↗