Cerebral Lactate Accumulation and Glucose Exhaustion During Circulatory Arrest

Glucose and lactate content in dog brain were measured before and during arrest of circulation in a standard preparation. Comparison with other studies of the same model allowed the guarded conclusion that the cerebral lactate level in dogs after 10 min of severe hypoxia may be indicative of an irreversible state. Lactate concentration rose and glucose levels fell during a 10-min period of ischemia. The increase in lactate concentration was sufficient to account for about one-fourth of the decrease in glucose content by way of anerobic glycolysis.