Uncoupling of cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization by dihydroergocristine in the conscious rat.

Dose-dependent effects of the dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid dihydroergocristine on physiological variables, local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) and local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) were evaluated in the conscious rat after intravenous injection. Heart rate was reduced with 2.5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg dihydroergocristine. LCBF and LCGU were determined autoradiographically by employing the 14C-iodoantipyrine or 14C-2-deoxyglucose technique, respectively. At a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, dihydroergocristine neither changed LCGU nor LCBF, while at 2.5 mg/kg a slight decrease in LCGU was measured, which was more pronounced at 20 mg/kg. LCBF was significantly increased in several structures at 2.5 mg/kg, but it was markedly reduced at 20 mg/kg. The divergent effects on LCBF and LCGU at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg suggest a potential capacity of dihydroergocristine to uncouple the close interrelation of cerebral blood flow and cerebral energy metabolism.