Cerebrovascular reactivity and metabolism after subarachnoid hemorrhage in baboons.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was induced in baboons by puncturing the middle cerebral artery. Four to seven days later cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to changing PaCO2 and to intracarotid infusion of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 micrograms of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)/kg/min were studied using the intracarotid 133xenon clearance technique. Indices of cerebral metabolism were determined by measuring arterio-venous differences for oxygen, pyruvate, lactate and glucose. The results were compared with those from sham-operated baboons. In the sham-operated group normal CO2 reactivity was seen, and 5-HT infusion did not produce any significant change in CBF or cerebral metabolism. By contrast, the group in which SAH was induced showed a significant decrease in CBF and cerebral oxygen utilization, and attenuated CO2 reactivity.