[Interhemisphere asymmetry of the CSF dynamics and biomechanical properties of the skull].

This investigation shows that both intracranial liquor circulation and skull biomechanical properties evaluated by its pliability (compliance) to intracranial pressure are characterised by marked interhemisphere asymmetry. The interhemisphere differences of cerebrospinal fluid mobility were evaluated by means of asymmetry coefficient (right/left ratio of liquor mobility) which was found to be 1.25-1.45 in healthy middle-age persons. For the skull pliability (compliance) the coefficient of hemispheric asymmetry was 0.75-0.95. These two hemisphere asymmetry coefficients are characterized by reciprocal relationships. These coefficients demonstrated no dominancy related to right/left hemisphere as well as no correlation with neurophysiological parameter. Functional tests (apnoea, hyperventilation, Stookey test) gave rise to significant changes of these coefficient values. At ageing, the magnitudes of these coefficients decreased. The spectral analysis of pulse waves of dopplerogram and rheoencephalogram reveals hemisphere asymmetry, too. It should be suggested that the interhemisphere asymmetry of the CSF dynamics and skull biomechanical properties is a special mechanism which contributes in the process of circulatory-metabolic support of brain activity.

[Biomechanical properties of the human cranium: aging aspects].

Biomechanical properties of the human skull affect its dynamic tensility (pliability, compliance) by changes of intracranial volume and pressure (deltaV/deltaP). The goal of this study is to substantiate a possibility of noninvasive and dynamic evaluation of cranial compliance. The transcranial dopplerogram of middle cerebral artery and hemispheric bioimpedance were synchronously recorded, which represent information about pulsative changes of intracranial pressure and volume, respectively. The parameters were recorded at rest and during adequate hemo- and liquorodynamic tests in different age groups--20-30, 40-50, and 70-85 years. As compared with the young group, a decrease of the cranial compliance in the intermediate age group was revealed due to an observed increase if rigidity of skull bones and ligaments, which indicates a decrease of stability of the intracranial circulatory system. However, in the group of 70-85 years the compliance rose again due to an enlargement of intracranial liquor spaces and facilitation of liquor circulation inside the intracranial cavity; this can be suggested to be a compensatory mechanism for supporting the adequate brain circulatory-metabolic state.

[Slow-wave fluctuations in craniosacral space: hemo-liquorodynamic conception of origin].

In the paper, the mechanism of forming of rhythmic slow-wave fluctuations in craniospinal cavity was investigated. In five young healthy persons, at rest and under voluntary respiration arrest test, the bioimpedansograms of head and lumbosacral part of vertebral column were synchronously registered as these recordings reflect the changes of relationships between blood/CSF volumes in cranial and lumbosacral regions, respectively. The recordings were subjected to frequency and spectral computer analysis (PC Macintosh G-4, Chart 5.2. software). The rapid (pulsatile) as well as slow and counter-directed waves (frequency 6-10 cycles/min) of these processes were revealed in cranial and lumbosacral regions. The data obtained suggest the CSF dynamic concept of origin of the craniosacral rhythm. The pulse and slow-frequency oscillations of the cerebral vessels tone initiate corresponding intracranial pressure waves, and the latter are the motivating forces for to-and-fro CSF shifts in caudal direction. This mechanism is accompanied by tonic contractions of lumbar muscles and sacrum movements, and it is manually perceptible as a craniosacral rhythm.

[Age-related characteristics of relationships between brain blood flow, liquor dynamics and biomechanical properties of human cranium].

The peculiarities of relationships between changes of cerebral blood flow, intracranial liquor dynamics and skull biomechanics in humans were studied in an age aspect. For this aim, a non-invasive method was proposed based on concomitant registration of rheoencephalogram and transcranial dopplerogram and evaluation of relationships between intracranial volume and pulse pressure changes (P-V index). The data obtained were analyzed by pattern-phase computer processing and compared with the blood flow parameters. The investigation was carried out on healthy volunteers of 18-25, 40-50 and 65-75 years of age. It was shown that circulatory-metabolic supplying of human brain was supported by such factors as volume brain blood flow, intracranial liquor dynamics in cooperation with skull biomechanics. The cerebral blood flow decrease at aging could be compensated by increase of the reserve-compensatory abilities of the system of cranial-spinal liquor dynamics.

[Dynamics of local cerebral blood flow in different somatosensory cortical layers during whisker stimulation in rats]. / Dinamika krovotoka v razlichnykh sloiakh somatosensornoi oblasti kory golovnogo mozga u krys pri mekhanicheskoi stimuliatsii vibriss.

Whisker stimulation in rats was found to increase the local cerebral blood flow (lCBF), its SD and to damp slow oscillations. It was established that lCBF drops slightly within a few seconds after the stimulus onset. The data obtained suggest that lCBF evoked sensory stimulation changes are distinctly localized in different layers of the somatosensory cortex.

[The role of the CSF dynamic component in forming the periodic fluctuations in the electric impedance of the head]. / O roli likvorodinamicheskogo komponenta v formirovanii periodicheskikh fluktuatsii élektroimpedansa golovy.

In patients with partial craniospinal blocks, the impedance responses to certain functional tests were by 20-30% less obvious. Osteopathic procedures normalised the impedance fluctuations. The data obtained suggest that the CSF dynamics plays an important role in genesis and changes of the head impedance.

[Cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity in the early postnatal ontogeny of rats]. / Mozgovoi krovotok i tserebrovaskuliarnaia reaktivnost' v rannem postnatal'nom ontogeneze krys.

The development of cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) were studied in Wistar rats during early postnatal ontogenesis, in groups aged 2-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-15, 16-18 and 19-25 days. CBF was measured polarographically using inhaled hydrogen clearance method, with platinum electrodes inserted into parietal cortex. At the mentioned age periods, CBF and its percentage of adult level averaged as 38 (21%), 81 (45%), 142 (78%), 85 (47%), 110 (61%), and 118 (65%) ml/100 g/min, respectively. Hence, during the early postnatal ontogenesis CBF increased gradually, however, it did not reach the adult level up to the end of the first month. CBF peak at 9-11 days period is suggested as a result of sharp rise of the brain vessels growth. CVR was assessed as the percentage of CBF increase after standardized 5% CO2 inhalation test. At the above age periods, CVR was found to bi 26, 33, 36, 41, 44 and 31% respectively, and was similar to adult rat CVR of 36%. The conclusion was drawn that regulatory mechanisms of adequate responses of brain vasculature to chemical metabolic factors are well developed already at the very beginning of postnatal life.

LCBF changes in rat somatosensory cortex during whisker stimulation monitored by dynamic H2 clearance.

We evaluated increases in local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) localized to single activated cortical columns by H2 clearance methods. The rat whisker-barrel cortex is a model for cortical function and neural processing in active explorative behaviors. Up to four 30-40 microns Pt wire electrodes were inserted in or near the rat whisker-barrel cortex. Electrode positions were mapped by postmortem histology. H2 was generated electrochemically by constant current from one electrode and detected by one or more other electrodes 300-500 microns away. Changes in LCBF produced inverse changes in PH2. Shifts during steady H2 generation were calibrated against standard H2 inhalation clearance curves at rest and during inhalation of 7.5% CO2 for 1 min for quantitative estimates of LCBF. Contralateral whisker stimulation at 3 Hz, 1 min duration and delivered every 2 min produced the largest increases in LCBF. LCBF responses were detected in approximately 1 s. Stimulation of single whiskers produced the largest responses when an electrode was in the corresponding barrel. These results indicate that increased neural activity in a single cortical column produces blood flow responses primarily in that column.

[A comparison of the measurements of local cerebral blood flow by hydrogen clearance with hydrogen inhalation and by its electrochemical generation in brain tissue]. / Sopostavlenie izmerenii lokal'nogo mozgovogo krovotoka vodorodnym klirensom s ingaliatsiei vodoroda i s ego élektrokhimicheskoi generatsiei v tkani mozga.

The goal of the present investigation was to compare data received by modifications of H2-clearance method with inhalation (H2-Inh) and electrochemical generation in brain tissue (H2-Gen) of H2 from the same recording electrodes in acute experiments (urethane 1g/kgip) with Wistar rats (n = 39). Block of three or four Pt electrochemically sharpened electrodes to tip diameters of 20-40 mu, 0.3-0.5 mm apart and 0.8-1.0 mm in length were inserted through the dura into sensorimotor cortex. One electrode was used for H2 generation (DC current 3-5 microA) and the others for PH2 recordings by polarographical method. Durations of H2 inhalation and H2 electrochemical generation were 3 or 10s with similar amplitudes of PH2. Data was recorded with a MacLab analog-digital system and Macintosh 11si computer. Recordings of resting LCBF were made with H2-Gen and H2-Inh the beginning of the experiment and after 40-60 min. LCBF was stimulated with inhalation of 7.5% CO2 for 60s. In 6 preparations LCBF was measured 10-20 min. after occlusions of two branches of the middle cerebral artery. After experiments the brain was perfused with India ink and cut in frozen sections for morphological analyses. The mean values of resting LCBF measured by H2-Inh was 1.67 +/- 0.54 ml/g/min. (+/- SD, N = 149), and by H2-Gen 3.17 +/- 0.91 (N = 147). The diffusional component was estimated as 1.2-2.5 (equivalent units, ml/g/min.) in dead cortex. The ratio of clearances in H2-Gen to H2-Inh varied in different experiments from 1.0 up to 4.0.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Combinations of methods for the monitoring of the cerebral microcirculation]. / Kombinatsii metodov dlia monitoringa mikrotsirkuliatsii mozga.

Any single method for measuring changes in local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) or blood vessels during physiological stimuli has individual strengths and deficiencies. The coupling of multiple methods based on different physical principles permits simultaneous measurements and tests of interrelated cerebrovascular changes and mechanisms. The present paper describes combined recordings of LCBF by H2 clearance with inhalation (H2Cl-Inh) and with steady electrochemical generation (H2Cl-Gen), by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and by dimensional changes in surface vessels with videomicroscopy through acute cranial windows in rats anesthetized with urethane 1g/kg or urethane (0.6 g/kg) plus chloralose (0.05 g/kg)ip. For H2Cl-Gen recordings paired or quadred Pt sharped block of electrodes (diameter 0.04-0.06 mm) with distance between single electrode 0.3-0.5 mm, was inserted to brain tissue in barrel cortex. One electrode was used for H2 generation and others for LCBF recordings and their position in brain tissue was examined morphologically. Increase local blood flow in barrel cortex and arterial dilation were stimulated by inhalation of 7% CO2 and mechanical stimulation of the contralateral whiskers. H2Cl-Inh was a "gold standard" for quantitative measurements of LCBF within a tissue radius 0.3-0.5 mm from the recording electrode during related tests during steady states at the same site. H2Cl-Gen was very sensitive to transient changes in flow and could record latencies. H2Cl-Gen was calibrated for quantitative measurements of changes in LCBF by pairing with H2Cl-Inh responses to CO2 inhalation. The laser Doppler miniature probe recorded the time course and normalized intensity changes within an approximate 1 mm3 volume of cortex but with more background noise and less sensitivity compared to H2Cl-Gen. Bright illumination of the cranial window increased LCBF by both methods in these experiments. The diameters of surface arterioles and venues were measured in single video frames with date-time markers for correlation with electrical recordings. Changes in diameter were small and were slower compared to H2Cl-Gen and LDF in the present recordings. Received data permit to conclude that there are two optimal combinations of methods were (1) H2Cl-Gen and H2Cl-Inh for both dynamic sensitivity and quantitative LCBF during systemic and neuronal stimulation, and (2) H2Cl-Gen, LDF, and videomicroscopy for multidimensional monitoring of cerebral circulation.

[The characteristics of the correlation of the functional activity, blood supply and structural organization in the sensory-deprived cerebral cortex in rats]. / Osobennosti korreliatsii funktsional'noi aktivnosti, krovosnabzheniia i strukturnoi organizatsii v sensorno-deprivirannoi kore mozga krys.

The feature of correlation between functional activity of the brain tissue and structural-functional characteristics of the vascular system after sensory deprivation by the removal of whiskers in newborn animals were studied in nembutal-anaesthetized rats in comparison to the animals under d-tubocurarine with local anesthesia. It has been shown that there are major changes of EP parameters and ECoG in the sensory-deprived brain area and diminution of brain cortex thickness. Changes in the vascular system are mainly structural, what are revealed as disorganization in angioarchitecture of radial arteries. At the same time, differences in the blood circulation intensity are found in d-tubocurarine animals only. The largest volume of the local blood circulation is observed in intact hemisphere of sensory-deprived animal. Thus, it can be concluded that sensory-deprived model is the alternative to the ischemia model. This model can be used in studies of physiology of brain blood circulation, and the "structure-function" correlation, in particular.