Published in:
01-12-2010 | Clinical Article
Radial oxygen gradients over rat cortex arterioles
Authors:
Michael Galler, Stefan Moritz, Gregor Liebsch, Chris Woertgen, Alexander Brawanski, Jan Warnat
Published in:
Acta Neurochirurgica
|
Issue 12/2010
Login to get access
Abstract
Purpose
We present the results of the visualisation of radial oxygen gradients in rats’ cortices and their potential use in neurocritical management.
Methods
PO2 maps of the cortex of ten sedated, intubated and controlled ventilated Wistar rats were obtained with a camera (SensiMOD, PCO, Kelheim, Germany). Those pictures were analysed and edited by a custom-made software. A virtual matrix, designed to evaluate the cortical O2 partial pressure, was placed vertically to the artery under investigation, and afterwards multiple regions of interest were measured (width 10 pixels, length 15–50 pixels). The results showed a map of the cerebral oxygenation, which allowed us to calculate radial oxygen gradients over arterioles. Three groups were defined according to the level of the arterial pO2: PaO2 < 80, PaO2 80–120 and PaO2 > 120. Gradients were analysed from the middle of the vessel to its border (1), from the border into the parenchyma next to the vessel (2) and a combination of both (3).
Results
Gradient 1 showed significantly different cortical pO2 values between the three different groups. The mean pO2 values were 2.62, 5.29 and 5.82 mmHg/mm. Gradient 2 measured 0.56, 0.90 and 1.02 mmHg/mm respectively. Gradient 3 showed significant results between the groups with values of 3.18, 6.19 and 6.84 mmHg/mm.
Conclusion
Using these gradients, it is possible to describe and compare the distribution of oxygen to the brain parenchyma. With the presented technique, it is possible to detect pO2 changes in the oxygen supply of the brain cortex.