Simultaneous Determination of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow, Glucose Metabolism, and pH in Acute Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral glucose metabolic rate (rCMR), and regional pH (r-pH) were measured simultaneously in fulminant acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by the use of triple-label autoradiography. No changes were found in the absence of lesions (lymphocytic accumulations). In the lesions, rCBF was 79% increased and rCRM was 13% increased, whereas r-pH was unaltered compared to normal values. The reported changes result in a CBF/CMR ratio of almost 3 in the lesions compared to the normal value of 1.5. The changes may be interpreted as primary disturbances in glucose metabolism, resulting in a secondary increase in CBF. This theory is supported by quoted observations on abnormal morphology and abnormal enzyme content in brain mitochondria in EAE.