Open AccessMeasurement of Brain pH Using11CO2and Positron Emission Tomography
Author(s) -
Richard B. Buxton,
Lawrence R. Wechsler,
Nathaniel M. Alpert,
Robert H. Ackerman,
David R. Elmaleh,
John A. Correia
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.167
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1559-7016
pISSN - 0271-678X
DOI - 10.1038/jcbfm.1984.2
Subject(s) - positron emission tomography , brain positron emission tomography , tomography , positron emission , positron , physics , nuclear medicine , nuclear physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , medicine , preclinical imaging , optics , electron , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , biology
We have examined the feasibility of measuring local brain pH in vivo with 11 CO 2 and positron emission tomography. In particular, we have addressed two objections that have been raised against this method: the assumed need to estimate local tissue Pco 2 and the rapid fixation of 11 C in tissue. From a reexamination of the basic theory, we argue that after administration of 11 CO 2 the time-dependent distribution of 11 C between tissue and blood is independent of the distribution of CO 2 already in the body, making it unnecessary to estimate local tissue Pco 2 . Assuming that the blood–brain barrier is impermeable to bicarbonate ions, there will be equal partial pressures of 11 CO 2 in blood and tissue at equilibrium. To overcome the problem of fixation in the tissue we have developed a kinetic model of the time-dependent distribution of 11 C that accounts for regional variations in blood flow, CO 2 extraction, pH, and rate of fixation. The values of the model parameters can be estimated from sequential measurements of tissue activity concentration during administration of 11 CO 2 . Tissue pH can then be calculated from one of the parameter values, a measurement of arterial pH, and known constants. Numerical calculations based on the kinetic model with assumed values of the parameters were used to optimize the experimental design. The calculations show that problems with fixation are much less severe with continuous infusion of activity than with bolus administration. During infusion the tissue curve depends strongly on tissue pH but only weakly on the rate of fixation. With state of the art tomographic systems it should be possible to measure tissue pH with an error of about 0.04 pH units.