Cerebrospinal fluid acid-base status during normocapnia and acute hypercapnia in equine neonates.
Abstract: To determine normal acid-base status of the CSF and to compare it with changes during acute hypercapnia in equine neonates. Methods: 10 clinically normal foals between 1 and 12 days old. Methods: CSF and arterial and venous blood samples were collected every 15 minutes during 45 minutes of normocapnia and 90 minutes of hypercapnia in isoflurane-anesthetized foals. CSF samples were collected via a subarachnoid catheter placed in the atlanto-occipital space. Results: Comparison of blood and CSF gases during normocapnia indicated that CSF was significantly more acidic than blood. The lower pH was attributable to higher CO2 and lower bicarbonate concentrations than those in blood. During hypercapnia, CSF CO2 increased and pH decreased parallel to changes in blood, but changes were not a great as similar changes in venous blood, indicating that some degree of buffering occurs in the CSF of foals. Conclusions: Normal CSF acid-base status in equine neonates is similar to that in other domestic species. The blood-brain and blood-CSF interfaces in neonates allow rapid diffusion of CO2, but allow only slow diffusion of bicarbonate. Equine neonates are capable of buffering respiratory-induced acid-base changes in the CSF, but the buffering capacity is less than that of the vascular compartment. Conclusions: Neonatal foals may develop severe respiratory compromise, resulting in hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Because the ability of the CSF to buffer acid-base changes in neonates is reduced, hypercapnia may contribute to the CNS abnormalities that often develop in sick neonates. Thus, normal blood gas values should be maintained in diseased equine neonates.
Publication Date: 1996-10-01 PubMed ID: 8896689
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study is aimed at understanding the normal acidity levels of the Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its changes during acute hypercapnia (excessive carbon dioxide in the bloodstream) in newborn horses. The study concludes that newborn horses can buffer changes in acidity in the CSF due to respiratory issues, but this ability is less than that of the vascular compartment. High carbon dioxide levels may contribute to abnormalities in the central nervous system in unhealthy newborn horses.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted their study on 10 clinically normal foals between the ages of 1 and 12 days.
- CSF, arterial, and venous blood samples were taken every 15 minutes over 45 minutes of normal carbon dioxide levels and 90 minutes of increased carbon dioxide levels in foals anaesthetized with isoflurane.
- The CSF samples were extracted using a subarachnoid catheter situated in the atlanto-occipital space.
Results
- The study found that during normal carbon dioxide levels, the CSF was significantly more acidic than blood due to higher CO2 levels and lower bicarbonate concentrations.
- During periods of high carbon dioxide, the acidity and carbon dioxide levels in the CSF increased and were parallel to changes in blood, however, these changes were less than the changes in venous blood.
- This indicated that some degree of buffering, or neutralization of acidity, occurs in the CSF of foals, but this capacity is less than that of the vascular compartment.
Conclusions
- The normal acid-base status of CSF in newborn horses is similar to that in other domestic species.
- The boundaries between blood and brain, and blood and CSF, in newborns allow for the rapid diffusion of CO2, but the diffusion of bicarbonate is slow.
- In times of serious respiratory compromise resulting in low oxygen and high carbon dioxide, newborn foals may develop central nervous system issues due to the CSF’s reduced buffering ability.
- The findings suggested that maintaining normal blood gas values is critical in diseased newborn horses for proper CNS functioning.
Cite This Article
APA
Geiser DR, Andrews FM, Rohrbach BW, Provenza MK.
(1996).
Cerebrospinal fluid acid-base status during normocapnia and acute hypercapnia in equine neonates.
Am J Vet Res, 57(10), 1483-1487.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901-1071, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acid-Base Equilibrium
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bicarbonates / blood
- Bicarbonates / cerebrospinal fluid
- Carbon Dioxide / blood
- Carbon Dioxide / cerebrospinal fluid
- Female
- Horses
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Male
- Oxygen / blood
- Partial Pressure
- Reference Values
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Christensen HL, Nguyen AT, Pedersen FD, Damkier HH. Na(+) dependent acid-base transporters in the choroid plexus; insights from slc4 and slc9 gene deletion studies.. Front Physiol 2013 Oct 22;4:304.
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