The dissociation of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and function in the early stages of developing cerebral infarction.

Temporal and site correlation of local cerebral blood flow (1-CBF), tissue redox state, energy metabolism, tissue pH, and cerebral electrophysiological activity in induced cerebral ischemia was performed in rats in an effort to obtain helpful clues for the management of occlusive cerebrovascular disease. CBF decreased acutely in both the embolized and nonembolized hemispheres but returned toward normal in 5 minutes. However, total cerebral oxidative metabolism remained depressed throughout the 30-minute observation period despite improved perfusion. The change in CBF correlated with the development and resolution of tissue acidosis, which was maximal 3 minutes after embolization but became alkaline after 30 minutes, possibly due to accumulation of sodium lactate. Oxidized form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide and cytochrome a,a3 quickly became reduced in the ischemic core, but a tardyspontaneous postischemic tissue perfusion resulted in their hyperoxidation. The CBF-metabolism uncoupling as well as postischemic hyperoxidation of the electron transport system, which is associated with accumulation of pyruvate and lactate, probably resulted from stagnation of electron flow at the entrance to the mitochondrial respiratory processes. Seizures could not account for these results, as paroxysmal changes in the EEG usually appeared only in the nonembolized hemisphere and were not dependent upon lack of energy. These studies confirm that metabolic failure may persist in ischemic tissue despite adequate reperfusion, which may, in fact, contribute to tissue damage through hyperoxidation.