Cytosolic Free Calcium, NAD/NADH Redox State and Hemodynamic Changes in the Cat Cortex during Severe Hypoglycemia

Using indo-1, a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, in vivo fluorometric measurements were made of changes in cytosolic free Ca2+, NAD/NADH redox state, and hemodynamics directly from the cat cortex during and after severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Cytosolic free Ca2+ started to increase when the EEG became isoelectric, remained at a significantly high level (p less than 0.05) during the period of isoelectric EEG (IEEG), and recovered to the control level 6 min following an intravenous infusion of glucose. The NAD/NADH redox state oxidized significantly during IEEG and then recovered rapidly to the control level after the glucose infusion. Local cortical blood volume (LCBV) increased gradually during the progression of hypoglycemia, reaching the maximal level (146 +/- 7%) at the end of IEEG, and then started to recover. The mean transit time (MTT) through the cortical microcirculation was shortened during the IEEG (control: 3.84 +/- 0.41 s versus IEEG: 2.73 +/- 0.17 s, p less than 0.05), whereas it was prolonged during the 30-min recovery period (5.68 +/- 0.58 s, p less than 0.05). Local cortical blood flow calculated from the LCBV and MTT showed a twofold increase 5 min into IEEG (201 +/- 27% of control, p less than 0.05), recovered 15 min into the recovery period, and then decreased to 77% of control (p less than 0.05) by 30 min. The data support the hypothesis that hypoglycemic brain damage might be mediated by an elevation of cytosolic free calcium.