Measurements of oxygen tension in the cerebral cortex of baboons

A polystyrene-covered platinum electrode (100-150 mum diameter) has been used to measure cortical tissue oxygen tension in baboon brains. The method of preparation, calibration, and the importance of small residual current (less than 40 nA) as an attribute of a reliable electrode, are described. With electrodes of this size, there was a large (16 +/- 12nA/torr) and linear current output with pO2 changes. The effect of avrious gases in addition to oxygen is described; halothane inhalation increases the apparent pO2 and hydrogen, used for blood flow estimations, reduces the recorded pO2. In 48 separate electrode placements in 13 baboons, the mean cortical qo2 was 23.8 +/- 12 mm Hg, with a range from 1-79 mm Hg; following occlusion of one middle cerebral artery, 37 electrodes recorded a pO2 of less then 5 mm Hg pO2 Oscillations were invariably noted in control conditions, independent of blood pressure; these waves disappeared during MCA occlusion and appeared to be augmented following release of the clip. Blood pressure "spikes" produce immediate and synchronous changes in all electrodes entirely different from the spontaneous waves. Such blood pressure changes may mask the true effect of hypercapnia on tissue pO2 and, if ignored, may lead to erroneous assumptions regarding local neural control of the circulation, the increased pO2 secondary to hypertension being regarded as evidence of regional vasodilation. A SUdden change in inspired pO2-the "air test"-was performed in control conditions and following the ischaemic insult, and the rate of change of cortical pO2 compared. The gradient was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) following ischaemia, suggesting a changed ratio in the tissue's flow to oxygen requirements and/or a persisting vasodilatation.