Brain Capillary Permeability to Proteins during Acute Exposure to Hypoxia and to Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

The effects on brain capillary permeability to proteins of 4 hours' exposure to hypoxia (10.5 % oxygen) or to carbon monoxide (carboxyhemoglobin concentration 38 %) were studied in dogs. The cisternal/plasma concentration ratio for albumin and cisternal total protein concentration was found unchanged after the exposure. Similar results were obtained by use of ¹³¹I human serum albumin. It is concluded that neither hypoxia nor carbon monoxide exposure of an intensity compatible with life has any effects on the protein permeability of the brain capillaries. The investigations showed the cisternal albumin/globulin concentration ratio to be about 0.5–0.6.

Key Words:

• Albumin
• capillary permeability
• carbon monoxide
• ¹³¹I human serum albumin
• hypoxia
• total protein