Cerebrospinal fluid enzymes in acute brain injury. 3. Effect of hypotension on increase of CSF enzyme activity after cold injury in cats.

The influence of trimetaphan-induced hypotension was studied on the increase in the activities of various enzymes in the cerebrospinal fluid after cold injuries of the brain in cats. Hypotension was induced immediately after freezing, and in a second series after a delay of 45 minutes. It was shown that induction of hypotension may inhibit the appearance of enzymes in the CSF after cold injuries in the first seven hours after freezing. Histological studies revealed less pronounced oedema in the hypotensive animals. The results suggest that hypotension retards the transport of enzymes released from necrotic areas through the extracellular fluid towards the CSF.