[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.

Slow-wave oscillations in the craniosacral space: a hemoliquorodynamic concept of origination.

The mechanism of formation of rhythmic, slow-wave oscillations in the craniospinal cavity were studied. Synchronous bioimpedance traces were made of the head and lumbosacral part of the spine in five healthy young subjects at rest and during voluntary breath-holding; these reflect changes in the ratios of blood and CSF volumes in these parts of the craniospinal space. Computer amplitude-frequency and spectral analysis of the data (Macintosh G-4, Chart-5.2) demonstrated slow (6-12 cycles/min) and rapid (pulsatile) oscillations in different directions in the cranial and lumbosacral areas. These data suggested a hemoliquorodynamic hypothesis for the craniosacral rhythm. The pulsatile and slow-wave oscillations of cerebrovascular tone and intracranial pressure evidently initiate to-and-fro displacements of the CSF in the caudal direction. The associated tonic contractions of the musculature of the lumbar part of the spine and the mobility of the sacrum are detected manually as the craniosacral rhythm.

[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.

[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.

[The informational significance of the pulse waves of an intracerebral rheoencephalogram]. / Informatsionnoe znachenie pul'sovykh voln vnutrimozgovoi reoéntsefalogrammy.

The evidence obtained on the pulse waves of intracerebral rheoencephalogram in rabbits and cats, suggests active responses of cortical vessels to the loads altering the correlation of the CSF and blood pulse volumes in the process of formation of these waves. The intracerebral rheoencephalogram seems to be able to reflect the changes of both the vascular tone and the brain tissue hydration.

[The role of the perivascular spaces in shaping the pulse waves of the intracerebral rheoencephalogram]. / O roli perivaskuliarnykh prostranstv v formirovanii pul'sovykh voln vnutrimozgovoi reoéntsefalogrammy.

The intracerebral rheoencephalogram's pulse waves were recorded in rabbits and cats with indwelling electrodes. The waves' amplitude and form were rather diverse and they were inverted in 25% cases: the systolic peak was directed to an increase in the impedance. The dynamics of the waves reflect complex hemoliquorodynamic interrelations in perivascular space.

[The effect on the cerebral microcirculation of in vivo stains used in biomicroscopy]. / Vliianie na mikrotsirkuliatsiiu mozga nekotorykh prizhiznennykh krasitelei, ispol'zuemykh pri biomikroskopii.

Vasoactive properties of semi-colloidal acid stains of the Evan blue and tripane blue, were revealed in rabbits and rats. The microphoto-technique revealed a dose-depending vasodilating effect of the stains. The response of the arteries had sometimes a biphasic character: constriction--dilation. I. v. administration of the stains induced a dose-dependent significant reduction of local blood flow in the cortex, subcortical white substance and other parts of the brain, of total cerebral blood flow in the venous sinus; a drop of systemic arterial pressure in normo- and hypertensive animals; a change in cerebral bioelectrical activity with increasing theta-waves, appearance of spikes and polyspikes in the EEG. Acting upon the formation of vascular tonus, these stains can interfere with the mechanisms of regulation of cerebral blood flow.

[The effect of a calcium channel blockade on the reactivity of the cerebral vessels in rabbits]. / Vliianie blokady kal'tsievykh kanalov na reaktivnost' sosudov golovnogo mozga krolikov.

The changes of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) under influence of calcium antagonist nimodipine (0.01 and 0.06 mg/kg i.v.) and verapamil (0.6 and 1.0 mg/kg i.v.) were investigated in chronic experiments in 12 rabbits. Platinum electrodes were implanted into cortex, thalamus and hypothalamus, and cerebral blood flow was measured in these zones by H2-clearance method. CVR was evaluated as a ratio: cerebral blood flow after 7% CO2 inhalation to initial level. This ratio, or reactivity coefficient (RC), in normal conditions is 1.49-1.59. Nimodipine in dose 0.01 mg/kg resulted in significant decrease (by 15-20%) of RC only in cortex. In dose 0.06 mg/kg this decreased RC was about 20-30% in cortex and in hypothalamus, but in thalamus the changes of RC were insignificant. Verapamil in dose 0.6 mg/kg resulted in different changes of RC: increase in cortex, decrease in thalamus, but in hypothalamus no changes. In dose 1.0 mg/kg RC was decreased in cortex by 15-20%, in other zones were no changes.

[Functioning of the cerebral circulatory system in rabbits during hyperthermia]. / Funktsionirovanie sistemy mozgovogo krovoobrashcheniia krolikov pri gipertermii.

In chronic experiments on rabbits, the effect of hyperthermia growing up to 41 degrees C upon the cerebral circulation system, was studied. Cortical blood flow decreased by 20-25% due to hypercapnia and constriction of arterioles whereas the blood flow in the thalamus and hypothalamus either remained the same as initial one or increased insignificantly. The reactivity of cerebral vessels in CO2 inhalation and orthostatic load decreased along with the rise of body temperature. The signs of lesion of the hemato-encephalic barrier and an increase of the water content by 3-4% in the cortex and white matter were revealed in hyperthermia. The impedance data corroborated extracellular character of cerebral oedema. Comparative study of vasodilators euphylline, cavinton and flunaresine has revealed that the calcium blocking agent flunaresine provides the best restoration of the cerebral blood flow level and the reactivity of cerebral vessels in hyperthermia.

[Ways to optimize the cerebral circulation during extreme actions on the brain]. / Puti optimizatsii mozgovogo krovoobrashcheniia pri ékstremal'nykh vozdeistviiakh na golovnoi mozg.

The effect of mildronate (25 mg/kg, i.v.) administration during 14 days on the restoration of cerebral blood flow and vascular reactivity after local lesions and ischemia, was studied in rabbits. The effect involved an improvement of restorative processes due to a faster normalizing of reactivity of cerebral vessels. The latter seems to be more important for optimization of cerebral blood flow after extreme effects than the absolute level of the cerebral blood flow.