Effects of graded reduction of brain blood flow on ventilation in unanesthetized goats

Abstract
The ventilatory effects of graded reductions in brain bloow flow (BBF) were studied in unanesthetized goats. At a BBF of 85% of control (PVO2 = 29.2 Torr, PVCO2 = 47.3 Torr) there were no clear ventilatory effects. At BBF of 70% of control (PVO2 = 25.2, PVCO2 = 50.5) and 50% of control (PVCO2 = 22.3, PVCO2 = 53.0) there was hyperpnea, due primarily to an increase of tidal volume. Further reduction of BBF (avg of 42% of control) first produced intense tachypnea and then (30--40% of control) caused apnea that was reversible. At 50% BBF there was a reduction of brain O2 consumption, (4.67--4.00 ml/min) and an increase in systemic O2 consumption. beta-Adrenergic blockade prevented the increase in systemic O2 consumption and reduced the hyperpnea by two-thirds at 50% BBF; the residual hyperpnea was associated with hypocapnia in contrast to the hyperpnea prior to beta-adrenergic blockade, which was virtually isocapnic. The data suggest that hyperpnea due to brain ischemia is a result of both brain acidosis and systemic hypermetabolism. The similarity of the pattern of responses to that previously reported for progressive carboxyhemoglobinemia suggests that brain hypoxia is a determinant of the ventilatory responses to brain ischemia.

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