Relationship between adenosine concentration and oxygen supply in rat brain.

Since adenosine is present in normal brain tissue and cerebrosipinal fluid and since it dilates the pial vessels, it is possible that adenosine, in addition to H-+, is also a mediator of the metabolic regulation of cerebral blood flow. Evidence supporting this hypothesis was obtained under various experimental conditions characterized by achange in brain oxygen supply. The brain was frozen in situ by means of a small bonerongeur precooled in liquid N2 and the tissue was processed for adenosine determination (nmol/g of tissue). Electrical stimulation of the cortex at 0, 15, 30, and 45 Hz yielded adenosine levels of 5.4 plus or minus 0.7, 10.5 plus or minus 1.7, 13.0 plusor minus 1.2, and 9.0 plus or minus 2.1 nmol/g. Arterial pressures of 87, 60, and 40mmHg gave adenosine levels of 7.5 plus or minus 0.76, 13 plus or minus 2.6, and 26.6plus or minus 3.3, respectively. Ventilation with 29.7, 20, 10.7, and5.5% O2 significantly increased the adenosine levels to 9.4 plus or minus 3.0, 6.4 plus or minus 1.2, 30.0 plus or minus 9.3, and 63.3 plus or minus 18.2 nmol/g, respectively. Hyperventilation significantly increased adenosine form 6.7 plus or minus 1.0 to 11.8 plus or minus 1.4 nmol/g. This increased adenosine level was reduced by additionof CO2 to the ventilating gas mixture. Lactate, the main H-+ donor, pyruvate, and cAMP changed in a fashion parallel to adenosine. However, cAMP showedonly a small increase in adenosine. These findings are in accordance with the concept that adenosine and H-+ may act synergistally to regulate cerebral blood flow and that endogenous adenosine may exert a small effect on cAMP formation.