Effects of phenobarbital in cerebral ischemia. Part II: restitution of cerebral energy state, as well as of glycolytic metabolites, citric acid cycle intermediates and associated amino acids after pronounced incomplete ischemia.

Recovery of cerebral energy metabolism, following 15 or 30 min of pronounced, incomplete ischemia, was studied after 90 min of recirculation in rats that were either anesthetized with 70% N 2 O or 150 mg kg' 1 of phenobarbital. In all animals arterial blood pressure, Po a and Pco, were close to normal during recirculation. In nitrous oxide-anesthetized animals kept ischemic for 30 min, but not in those given phenobarbital, a gradual rise in intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure (to about 20-25 mm Hg) occurred during the last 20-30 min of recirculation.