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(Stroke. 1974;5:397.)
© 1974 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Effects of Catecholamine Infusions on Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxygen Consumption of the Isolated Perfused Dog Brain

R. ZIMMER M.D.¹

¹ Institute for Normal and Pathological Physiology of the University of Cologne, BRD-5 Köln 41, Robert-Koch-Strasse 39, Germany (Drs. Zimmer and Lang). Institute for Aerobiologic, BRD-5949 Grafschaft/Saucrland (Dr. Oberdörster)

Our earlier studies revealed a weak alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic activity of the cerebral vessels of the isolated perfused dog brain. The present investigations were undertaken to determine whether vascular adjustments occur in the cerebral circulation during longer periods of catecholamine infusions. The experiments were performed on six isolated canine brains cross perfused from donor dogs. Norepinephrine (2 µg per minute), epinephrine (2 µg per minute), and isoprenaline (0.2 µg per minute) were applied intra-arterially (i.a.) for a period of ten minutes. Total venous outflow, perfusion pressure in the circle of Willis, and venous O₂ saturation were monitored continuously. Cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) and cerebral O₂ consumption (CMRO₂) were calculated. Based on the pressure-flow relationship tested in each brain, the indirect effects of catecholamines on CVR caused by autoregulatory influences were calculated and eliminated. During norepinephrine and epinephrine infusions cerebral blood flow (CBF) was found to be decreased by 10.2 ± 6.0% and 4.1 ± 3.3%, respectively, whereas during isoprenaline infusion CBF increased by 9.3 ± 3.6% (mean values ± SD). The maximal changes of CBF were reached in the first or second minute of catecholamine infusion and persisted up to the end of infusion (P > 0.05). After elimination of the indirect effects of catecholamines on CVR, the direct effects on CVR were reduced to about 50% of the original values and remained constant at the level reached during the whole period of infusion. CMRO₂ was not changed (P > 0.05) during infusion of the different catecholamines. Based on these investigations it is assumed that no pronounced vascular adjustments occur in the cerebral circulation during catecholamine infusions.

Key Words: cerebral circulation • vascular adjustments • epinephrine • norepinephrine • isoprenaline • cerebral metabolism