The Metabolic Effects of Mild Hypothermia on Global Cerebral Ischemia and Recirculation in the Cat: Comparison to Normothermia and Hyperthermia

The metabolic effects of graded whole body hypothermia on complete global cerebral ischemia and recirculation was investigated in the cat. Hypothermia was induced to one of three levels prior to ischemia; T = 26.8 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees C (n = 4), T = 32.1 degrees +/- 0.2 degrees C (n = 5), and T = 34.6 degrees +/- 0.3 degrees C (n = 6), and maintained constant throughout 16 min of ischemia and 1.5-2 h of recirculation. Intracellular cerebral pH and relative concentrations of high-energy phosphate metabolites were continuously monitored, using in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Except for the first 4 min of ischemia, no significant differences were detected in the response of adenylate intensities and intracellular pH to ischemia and recirculation between the hypothermic groups. The three hypothermic groups were then pooled into one group, and the data compared to previously published data from a normothermic group, T = 38.4 degrees +/- 0.6 degrees C (n = 14), and a hyperthermic group, T = 40.6 degrees +/- 0.2 degrees C (n = 9), subjected to the identical ischemic and NMR measurement protocols. The hypothermic animals exhibited a statistically significant reduction of cerebral intracellular acidosis, both during ischemia and recirculation, as well as a more rapid return of adenylate intensities during recirculation, compared to the normothermic or hyperthermic groups. The data thus suggest that mild hypothermia has an ameliorative affect on brain energy metabolism and intracellular pH under conditions of complete global cerebral ischemia and recirculation.