Influence on Cerebral Blood Flow of Infusion of Sodium Bicarbonate during Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis in the Dog

In anaesthetized dogs, a mixed acid-base disturbance was induced by adding a pronounced metabolic alkaline to an established respiratory acidosis or alkalosis. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by the radioisotope washout method. In the hypocapnic dogs, the addition of metabolic alkalosis did not significantly change cerebral blood flow. In the hypercapnic dogs, the intravenous infusion of alkali led to a substantial reduction of cerebral blood flow, parallelled by a reduction of cerebrovenous oxygen tension. Acid-base analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indicated an increased bicarbonate concentration. Hypercapnia is suggested to facilitate the passage of bicarbonate over the blood-brain barrier, leading to cerebral vasoconstriction by means of increased extravascular pH.