Experimental Modifications of the Masserman Method for the Measurement of Cerebrospinal Fluid Formation

ABSTRACT

Two modifications of the Masserman method for the measurement of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) formation have been designed and compared with the Pappenheimer technique, the Masserman method and its old form of modification in animal experiment. Among the theoretical limitations of the Masserman method, resorption of CSF during the period of measurement was taken into account with two modifications of its integration in this study. The first one was calculated by reduced formula for a simple integration and the second one was produced by Simpson's formula of integration. Twenty adult cats were used for the experiment. Mean CSF production rate calculated by the Pappenheimer method, the Masserman method, the modified Masserman method and newly designed two modifications were 0.0207+/-0.0018 ml/min, 0.0128+/-0.0031 ml/min, 0.0166+/-0.0027 ml/min, 0.0183+/-0.003 ml/min and 0.0197+/-0.0033 ml/min respectively. When compared with the Pappenheimer method, data obtained from the Masserman method were significantly underestimated(p<0.01). All modifications have well correlated with the Pappenheimer method, and newly modified Masserman methods showed better cerrespondence.