Blood filtration and its effect on glucose metabolism by the isolated dog brain

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Abstract
Glucose consumption and lactic and pyruvic acid production are reported for 2 groups of isolated dog brains: perfused with blood filtered through Dacron wool to remove platelet aggregates that tend to block the microvasculature of the brain; and perfused with blood filtered through a stainless steel screen to remove fibrin clots. Perfusion pressure increased more rapidly in the 2nd group. Glucose consumption averaged 4.90 mg/100 g of brain per min in the 1st group and 3.65 mg/100 g of brain per min in the 2nd group, with lactic acid formation accounting for 6.1 and 11.7% of the respective glucose consumption values. No significant difference could be demonstrated in either glucose consumption or lactic acid production. Anaerobic glucose metabolism alone does not appear to account for a substantial amount of the glucose uptake by the isolated dog brain. The glycolysis observed by others with the isolated cat brain was probably due more to the use of "simplified" blood as the perfusate than to blockage of the brain microvasculature with platelet aggregates.