Biomaterial Database

Brain interstitial volume fraction and tortuosity in anoxia. Evaluation of the ion-selective micro-electrode method. 1992

J A Lundbaek, and A J Hansen

Department of General Physiology and Biophysics, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The micro-electrode method for determination of interstitial volume fraction (alpha) (Nicholson & Phillips 1981), was evaluated. The extracellular marker, tetramethylammonium+, is iontophoretically ejected from a micropipette and the change in concentration measured at a distance by an ion-sensitive micro-electrode and fitted to a diffusion equation. We used suspensions of human red blood cells as a model system and found that the values of alpha determined by this method and by haematocrit measurement were linearly correlated (r = 0.94) and not significantly different. The micro-electrode method was used to characterize the interstitial space in rat brain cortex during normal conditions and during arrest of blood flow supply. Transport of solutes in interstitial space is governed by two characteristics, the interstitial volume fraction and the tortuosity factor. During control conditions, the interstitial volume fraction was 0.18 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- SEM), whereas it decreased to 0.07 +/- 0.01 in ischaemia. The tortuosity factor was 1.40 +/- 0.05 in controls and increased to 1.63 +/- 0.09 during ischaemia. Our measurements support the validity of the micro-electrode method (Nicholson & Phillips 1981) and demonstrate that arrest of blood supply changes interstitial diffusional characteristics of brain cortex mainly by diminishing the size of the interstitial diffusional space.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007477	Ions	An atom or group of atoms that have a positive or negative electric charge due to a gain (negative charge) or loss (positive charge) of one or more electrons. Atoms with a positive charge are known as CATIONS; those with a negative charge are ANIONS.
D008297	Male		Males
D008839	Microelectrodes	Electrodes with an extremely small tip, used in a voltage clamp or other apparatus to stimulate or record bioelectric potentials of single cells intracellularly or extracellularly. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Electrodes, Miniaturized,Electrode, Miniaturized,Microelectrode,Miniaturized Electrode,Miniaturized Electrodes
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D002534	Hypoxia, Brain	A reduction in brain oxygen supply due to ANOXEMIA (a reduced amount of oxygen being carried in the blood by HEMOGLOBIN), or to a restriction of the blood supply to the brain, or both. Severe hypoxia is referred to as anoxia and is a relatively common cause of injury to the central nervous system. Prolonged brain anoxia may lead to BRAIN DEATH or a PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE. Histologically, this condition is characterized by neuronal loss which is most prominent in the HIPPOCAMPUS; GLOBUS PALLIDUS; CEREBELLUM; and inferior olives.	Anoxia, Brain,Anoxic Encephalopathy,Brain Hypoxia,Cerebral Anoxia,Encephalopathy, Hypoxic,Hypoxic Encephalopathy,Anoxia, Cerebral,Anoxic Brain Damage,Brain Anoxia,Cerebral Hypoxia,Hypoxia, Cerebral,Hypoxic Brain Damage,Anoxic Encephalopathies,Brain Damage, Anoxic,Brain Damage, Hypoxic,Damage, Anoxic Brain,Damage, Hypoxic Brain,Encephalopathies, Anoxic,Encephalopathies, Hypoxic,Encephalopathy, Anoxic,Hypoxic Encephalopathies
D002540	Cerebral Cortex	The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions.	Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D004058	Diffusion	The tendency of a gas or solute to pass from a point of higher pressure or concentration to a point of lower pressure or concentration and to distribute itself throughout the available space. Diffusion, especially FACILITATED DIFFUSION, is a major mechanism of BIOLOGICAL TRANSPORT.	Diffusions
D005069	Evaluation Studies as Topic	Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies.	Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D005110	Extracellular Space	Interstitial space between cells, occupied by INTERSTITIAL FLUID as well as amorphous and fibrous substances. For organisms with a CELL WALL, the extracellular space includes everything outside of the CELL MEMBRANE including the PERIPLASM and the cell wall.	Intercellular Space,Extracellular Spaces,Intercellular Spaces,Space, Extracellular,Space, Intercellular,Spaces, Extracellular,Spaces, Intercellular
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man