Reduction of the cerebral protective effect of hypothermia by oligemic hypotension during hypoxia in the rat.

The effect of arterial hypotension on cerebral cortical tissue levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine (PGr), lactate, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was studied in male Wistar rats with unilateral carotid ligation exposed to arterial by hypoxia (PaO2 25 torr) for 20 min. while the body temperature was maintained at 32 degrees C and 27 degrees C. Brain metabolite levels were normal in normotensive hypothermic animals exposed to hypoxia, but reduction in arterial pressure to 75 torr caused a significant (p less than 0.05) decrease in ATP and PCr values and a significant increase in lactate and NADH levels. These changes were comparable to those of normothermic normotensive, hypoxic animals. Furthermore, there was no significant differences in the brain metabolite levels between the two hypotensive hypoxic groups. These results indicate that arterial hypotension severely alters the cerebral protective effect of hypothermia against injury caused by hypoxia, and that further reduction in body temperature (from 32 degrees C to 27 degrees C) will not prevent the harmful effect of hypoxia upon the brain in hypotensive rats.