Open AccessMetabolic mechanisms of development and compensation of osmotic stress in the brain
Author(s) -
Ekaterina Pigarova,
Пигарова Екатерина Александровна,
Larisa Dzeranova,
Дзеранова Лариса Константиновна
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
ožirenie i metabolizm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2306-5524
pISSN - 2071-8713
DOI - 10.14341/omet2017473-76
Subject(s) - tonicity , extracellular fluid , interstitial fluid , blood–brain barrier , osmometer , plasma osmolality , osmotic concentration , oncotic pressure , cerebrospinal fluid , biophysics , chemistry , intracellular fluid , body fluid , medicine , permeability (electromagnetism) , extracellular , endocrinology , neuroscience , biology , central nervous system , biochemistry , membrane , chromatography , albumin , vasopressin
Extracellular fluid of the brain, consisting of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid, is normally isotonic to blood plasma. Problems arise with a rapid change in osmolality of circulating blood or interstitial brain fluid. The permeability of the blood-brain barrier is lower than in the peripheral capillaries, but this permeability is still several times greater than the passive permeability for electrolytes or glucose. Because of this difference, it is believed that the brain is like an osmometer: it swells with reduced plasma osmolality and contracts (dehydrated) when the plasma becomes hypertonic. Osmotic stress has a direct effect on the functioning of the brain and triggers physiological compensatory mechanisms, in the absence of which due to the intensity or duration of stress, irreversible serious complications may develop. Knowledge and understanding of these processes are the basis for preventing their development and treatment.