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Biomedical subjects

G Kuhnen

Publications and source records attributed to G Kuhnen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Coupling of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in infant pigs during selective brain hypothermia.

Studies documenting the cerebral hemodynamic consequences of selective brain hypothermia (SBH) have yielded conflicting data. Therefore, the authors have studied the effect of SBH on the relation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and CMRO2 in the forebrain of pigs. Selective brain hypothermia was induced in seven juvenile pigs by bicarotid perfusion of the head with extracorporally cooled blood. Cooling and stepwise rewarming of the brain to a Tbrain of 38 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, and 38 degrees C at normothermic Ttrunk (38 degrees C) decreased CBF from 71 + 12 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1) at normothermia to 26+/-3 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1) and 40+/-12 mL 100 g(-1) min(-1) at a Tbrain of 25 degrees C and 30 degrees C, respectively. The decrease of CMRO2 during cooling of the brain to a Tbrain of 25 degrees C resulted in a mean Q10 of 2.8. The ratio between CBF and CMRO2 was increased at a Tbrain of 25 degrees C indicating a change in coupling of flow and metabolism. Despite this change, regional perfusion remained coupled to regional temperatures during deep cerebral hypothermia. The data demonstrate that SBH decreases CBF and oxygen metabolism to a degree comparable with the cerebrovascular and metabolic effects of systemic hypothermia. The authors conclude that, irrespective of a change in coupling of blood flow and metabolism during deep cerebral hypothermia, cerebral metabolism is a main determinant of CBF during SBH.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Controlled brain hypothermia by extracorporeal carotid blood cooling at normothermic trunk temperatures in pigs.

Cerebral hypothermia improves outcomes after brain injury. A technique is presented for isolated brain cooling in pigs by cooling the natural blood supply of the brain. Under general anesthesia both common carotid arteries were exteriorized. One proximal carotid artery was connected to both distal carotid arteries and a heat exchanger in this line controlled brain temperature. The second proximal carotid artery was connected to an external jugular vein and a heat exchanger in this arteriovenous shunt was used to clamp trunk temperature. Thalamic brain temperatures of anesthetized juvenile pigs (N = 8) were clamped at 38, 25, and 30 degrees C while trunk core temperature was clamped at 38 degrees C. Approximately 7 min were needed to decrease brain temperature from 38 to 25 degrees C, reducing brain electric activity by 76% and increasing the temperature differences between different brain sites. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output showed no significant change. Re-establishment of normothermic brain temperature led to a virtually complete recovery of brain electric activity. The technique is suitable for investigations of ischemic and traumatic injuries.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The effect of cage size and enrichment on core temperature and febrile response of the golden hamster.

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of cage size and cage enrichment. Golden hamsters were individually housed in standard cages of four different sizes and in enriched cages of three different sizes since 3 weeks of age. Each of the seven housing groups consisted of 12 hamsters. After 14 weeks of housing in their respective environments the measurements started. The mean baseline rectal temperature was significantly higher in hamsters housed in small cages than in hamsters housed in large cages. After the injection of fever-inducing lipopolysaccharide rectal temperature increased by 1 to 2 degrees C. The increase of rectal temperature and the fever index were the highest in animals housed in large cages and the smallest in animals housed in small cages. Through cage enrichment and increasing cage size the mean febrile response increased while the mean baseline rectal temperature decreased. Cage size and cage enrichment had no effect on the dispersion of the measured values. The differences in microclimate between large and small cages were too small to have an effect on thermoregulation. The results indicate that housing in small cages induce chronic stress which obviously affects thermoregulation. The findings demonstrate that the results of some physiological experiments are significantly influenced by the pre-experimental housing conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of dehydration and rehydration on body temperatures in the black bedouin goat.

The temperatures of the arterial blood and the brain in black Bedouin goats were measured continuously by miniature data loggers. The animals were either euhydrated or dehydrated to 75-80% of the initial body mass by withholding water for 3-4 days during exposure to intense solar radiation. The daily blood temperature means and maxima of were significantly higher in dehydration than in euhydration, but 40 degreesC was rarely exceeded even during the hot hours of the day. Selective brain cooling occurred in euhydration, but its extent was small when blood temperature was below 39.5 degreesC. In dehydration, however, selective brain cooling was frequent and the standard response when blood temperature exceeded 39 degreesC. We believe that selective brain cooling contributes to the inhibition of evaporative heat loss, which is the primary cause of the higher blood temperature in dehydration. Rapid rehydration with cold water induced long-lasting depression of blood temperature. No evidence was found for mechanisms attenuating the subsequent decrease of brain temperature which occurred a few minutes after the uptake of cold water.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Reduction of fever by housing in small cages.

Housing conditions influence anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of animals. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the generation of fever, a defence response of the body, is also affected by housing conditions. Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were housed in small cages, large cages, or large and enriched cages. After 9 weeks of exposure to their respective environments, the fever response to the administration of lipopolysaccharide (50 micrograms/kg from Salmonella typhosa) was tested. One hundred and twenty experiments in 30 hamsters demonstrated that housing in small cages diminished the fever responses (increase in core temperature and fever index) significantly by approximately 20%, and is likely to be due to a higher stress level. The findings demonstrate that the results of physiological experiments are not only influenced by the experimental design, but also by pre-experimental housing conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Activity, blood temperature and brain temperature of free-ranging springbok.

We used miniature data loggers to record temperature and activity in free-ranging springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) naturally exposed to severe nocturnal cold and moderate diurnal heat. The animals were active throughout the day and night, with short rests; the intensity of activity increased during daylight. Arterial blood temperature, averaged over many days, exhibited a circadian rhythm with amplitude < 1 degree C, but with a wide range which resulted from sporadic rapid deviations of body temperature. Peak blood temperature occurred after sunset. Environmental thermal loads had no detectable effect on blood temperature, even though globe temperature varied by > 10 degrees from day to day and > 20 degrees C within a day. Brain temperature increased approximately linearly with blood temperature but with a slope < 1, so that selective brain cooling tended to be activated at high body temperature, but without a precise threshold for the onset of brain cooling. Low activity attenuated selective brain cooling and high activity abolished it, even at high brain temperature. Our results support the concept that selective brain cooling serves to modulate thermoregulation rather than to protect the brain against heat injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Selective brain cooling reduces respiratory water loss during heat stress.

Terrestrial mammals developed several mechanisms to reduce water loss to counteract water shortage. One avenue of water loss is the evaporative heat loss by sweating and panting, which increases with body temperature. Sweating and panting are activated by temperature signals of the body, whereby the brain is the most important site in generating temperature signals. Goats, like other artiodactyls, can cool their brains selectively below the temperature of the trunk core. The aim of the present study is to determine whether an inhibition of the selective brain cooling (SBC) mechanism will increase substantially the respiratory evaporative water loss during heat stress due to the higher brain temperature. The inhibition of SBC was performed by increasing brain temperature experimentally at the same rate as trunk temperature by means of extracorporeal heat exchangers. These experiments without SBC resulted in higher respiratory evaporative water loss compared to experiments with normal SBC. Eighteen experiments in two conscious goats had shown that at a trunk temperature of 40 degrees C the respiratory water loss was reduced on average by 29 g/hr (0.7 l/day) due to the effect of SBC. This amount of water corresponds to about one third of the general water requirements. In conclusion, SBC substantially reduces the water loss in goats during heat stress and consequently improves survival chances during water shortage.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Unilateral selective brain cooling.

In species with a carotid rete the arterial blood flowing to the brain can be cooled by passing the carotid rete. The mechanism is termed selective brain cooling (SBC). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether SBC could be induced unilaterally. 27 experiments were performed in 2 conscious goats which were prepared with carotid loops to manipulate the blood temperature of the left and right carotid artery independently of each other. The temperature of the left and right hemisphere of the brain was controlled by means of extracorporeal heat exchangers acting on the carotid blood while trunk temperature was clamped at 39.5 degrees C by a heat exchanger in an arteriovenous shunt. Unilateral warming of the brain induced ipsilateral SBC only, and was accompanied by a bilateral increase of the ear skin temperature. The results demonstrate the precise control of brain temperature by SBC since even unilateral temperature deviations of the brain can be reduced by SBC. In conclusion SBC regulates the temperature of single hemispheres rather than the mean brain temperature.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Thermal signals in control of selective brain cooling.

In species with a carotid rete, the arterial blood destined for the brain can be cooled on its passage through the rete. The temperature difference between the blood before the rete and the brain is termed selective brain cooling (SBC). The onset and degree of cooling depend on internal body temperature. The aim of this study was to determine the brain sites where the temperature signals driving SBC are generated. Thirty-six experiments were performed in three conscious goats, which were prepared with an arteriovenous shunt, carotid loops, and hypothalamic thermodes to manipulate the temperatures of the trunk (Ttr), the hypothalamus (Thyp), the extrahypothalamic brain (Texh), or the whole brain (Tbr). In all experiments, Ttr was clamped at 39.5 degrees C. The increase of SBC was 2.1 degrees C per 1 degree C increase of Tbr (gain = 2.1). The rise of Thyp at constant Texh yielded a gain of 1.6, whereas the gain of Texh at constant Thyp was 0.7. It is concluded that onset and degree of SBC are predominantly determined by temperature signals generated in the hypothalamus itself.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Blood and brain temperatures of free-ranging black wildebeest in their natural environment.

Using miniature data loggers, we measured the temperatures of carotid blood and brain in four wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) every 2 min for 3 wk and every 5 min, in two of the animals, for a further 6 wk. The animals ranged freely in their natural habitat, in which there was no shelter. They were subject to intense radiant heat (maximum approximately 1,000 W/m2) during the day. Arterial blood temperature showed a circadian rhythm with low amplitude (< 1 degree C) and peaked in early evening. Brain temperature was usually within 0.2 degrees C of arterial blood temperature. Above a threshold between 38.8 and 39.2 degrees C, brain temperature tended to plateau so that the animals exhibited selective brain cooling. However, selective brain cooling sometimes was absent even when blood temperature was high and present when it was low. During helicopter chases, selective brain cooling was absent, even though brain temperature was near 42 degrees C. We believe that selective brain cooling is controlled by brain temperature but is modulated by sympathetic nervous system status. In particular, selective brain cooling may be abolished by high sympathetic activity even at high brain temperatures.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Selective brain cooling in resting and exercising Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).

The threshold body core temperature for selective brain cooling (SBC) as well as the slope of brain cooling were determined in three Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during rest and during exercise. Brain temperature was measured in the hypothalamus (Thypo) and blood temperature (Tblood) was measured either in the right carotid artery or in a few cases in the right atrium of the heart. During rest the animals were subjected to ramp-like increases of Tblood by means of a thermostatically controlled water circulated heat exchanger (HE) introduced into the rumen via a chronically implanted rumen cannula. During exercise the animals ran on a treadmill at a speed of between 5.5-8.0 km hr-1 and a slope of 13.5 degrees for periods of 30-60 min. The elevation of Tblood during both rest and exercise resulted in significant amounts of SBC. The mean threshold for SBC (Thypo = Tblood) during rest was 38.7 degrees C. The threshold for SBC was elevated significantly to 39.5 degrees C during exercise. The mean slope of SBC (increase of SBC per degree increase of Tblood) was 0.82 both during rest and exercise.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Effects of selective brain cooling on mechanisms of respiratory heat loss.

Experiments (n = 36) in three conscious goats were performed at 35 degrees C air temperature and low (LH) or high (HH) humidity. Prior to the experiments the animals received carotid loops and an arteriovenous shunt, which made it possible to increase the temperature of the blood flowing to head and trunk (series A), or to increase the temperature of the trunk at constant carotid blood and hypothalamic temperature (Thyp), respectively (series B). Owing to the smaller cooling power of the inspired air in HH, the slope of respiratory evaporative heat loss versus aorta blood temperature (Taor) was reduced in series A and B. In series A the slopes of respiratory minute volume (VE) and respiratory frequency (RF) versus Taor were larger in HH than in LH. The effects were caused by a reduction of selective brain cooling in HH, which resulted in higher levels of Thyp. This is concluded from the results of series B, in which Thyp was equal in LH and HH, and the slopes of VE and RF over Taor showed no differences. Thus, selective brain cooling contributes to counteract the deterioration of the gain of the respiratory heat loss mechanism, which occurs during exposure to humid air.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

No evidence for brain stem cooling during face fanning in humans.

The interpeak latencies (IPLs) of the acoustically evoked brain stem potentials depend on brain stem temperature. This was used to see whether face fanning during hyperthermia lowers brain stem temperature. In 15 subjects, three thermally stable conditions were maintained by a water bath. In each condition the IPLs were determined in 10 separate trials. In condition A esophageal temperature (Tes) was 36.9 +/- 0.3 degrees C and increased to 38.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C in condition B. In conditions A and B the head was enclosed in a ventilated hood (air temperature 38 degrees C, relative humidity 100%) to suppress any direct heat loss from the head. From conditions A to B the IPL at peaks I-V decreased by 0.146 ms/degrees C change in Tes, reflecting a change in brain stem temperature. In condition C the hood was removed and the face was fanned by a cold air-stream (8-15 degrees C, 4-10 m/s) to maximize direct heat loss from the head. Skin temperature at the sweating forehead decreased from 38 to 23 degrees C, whereas Tes in condition C was maintained at the same level as in condition B (38.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C). The IPL at peaks I-V showed no difference between conditions B and C. It is concluded that face fanning in hyperthermic subjects does not dissociate brain stem temperature from Tes.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Threshold and slope of selective brain cooling.

Experiments (n = 50) in three conscious goats were performed in a thermoneutral environment to determine the threshold (i.e. the point at which the brain temperature is equal to the carotid blood temperature) and slope (i.e. the difference between brain and carotid blood temperatures as a function of carotid blood temperature) of selective brain cooling (SBC) and analyse the thermal inputs affecting them. Prior to the experiments the animals received carotid loops and an arteriovenous shunt to manipulate head and trunk temperatures independently of each other. The mean SBC threshold was 38.75 degrees C T(carotis) and independent of T(trunk). When body core temperature was increased from a hypo- to a moderately hyperthermic level, the SBC threshold was passed before metabolic rate had reached its minimum and before cutaneous vasodilation occurred. The mean SBC slope was 0.78 and rose with increasing Ttrunk. The degree of SBC was principally independent of respiratory heat loss: high levels of heat loss were found without SBC, and large degrees of SBC were observed at low levels of heat loss. The effect of SBC in and around normothermia is to smooth the onset of shivering or panting and to establish a range of internal temperature within which metabolic rate and respiratory heat loss are simultaneously at low levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of spinal cord temperature on the generation and transmission of temperature signals in the goat.

A series of 38 experiments were performed in five conscious goats at air temperatures of +20 degrees C or +30 degrees C to see whether a temperature dependence of spinal cord signal transmission affects the relationships between body temperature and metabolic rate (MR) or respiratory evaporative heat loss (REHL). Prior to the experiments the animals received peridural thermodes to clamp the spinal cord temperature by perfusion temperatures of 31 degrees C, 38 degrees C or 43 degrees C (45 degrees C), carotid loops to clamp the brain temperature at 39 degrees C or 39.5 degrees C, and arteriovenous shunts to alter the trunk temperature and to determine thresholds and slopes of MR and REHL over trunk temperature. The trunk temperature thresholds, at which MR and REHL increased, were inversely related to the spinal cord temperature, thereby confirming previous observations on the generation of specific spinal temperature signals. The slopes at which MR rose below the threshold, increased with decreasing spinal cord temperature. The slopes of REHL over trunk temperature were independent of spinal cord temperature. Both observations are at variance with previously observed temperature effects on hypothalamic signal transmission and imply that temperature-dependent signal transmission at the spinal level cannot account for nonlinear interaction of various body temperatures in the control of MR and REHL.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Repeated exposures to cold and the relationship between skin and core temperatures in control of metabolic rate in the goat (Capra hircus).

1. After 10-12 experiments in each of three goats, in which skin or core temperatures were lowered while the other temperatures remained sufficiently high to prevent metabolic rate from increasing, the core temperature threshold of shivering was lowered by 0.35 degrees C. 2. After 10-15 experiments, in which skin and core temperatures were simultaneously lowered to induce major increases of metabolic rate, no further change of threshold was observed, while the slope of metabolic rate over core temperature was reduced. 3. It is concluded that repeated cold exposures without manifest shivering can induce tolerance adaptation to cold.

Adaptation, Physiological↗