Effects of phenobarbital on cerebral blood flow in the newborn piglet

To determine the neonatal cerebrovascular effect of a therapeutic dose and a high dose of phenobarbital (Pb), the effect of Pb on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and total brain oxygen consumption (CMRO2) was studied in three groups of awake newborn piglets (aged 1-3.5 days). Group I (control n = 9) received normal saline solution, group II (n = 9) received a therapeutic dose of Pb (15 mg/kg i.v.) and group III (n = 9) received a high Pb dose (45 mg/kg i.v.). Four CBF measurements per piglet using radioactive microspheres (141Ce, 85Cr, 95Nb, 46Sc), arterial blood gases, O2 content, hematocrit and plasma glucose were obtained at 0, 15, 30, 60 min after saline or Pb injections. In all groups, pH, PaO2, PaCO2, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and plasma glucose remained unchanged except a 14% decrease (p < 0.01) in blood pressure and an increase (p < 0.05) in PaCO2, 60 min after drug injection in groups II and III. Total CBF in group II decreased by 14% (p < 0.05) 15 min after drug injection and was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than control (group I) but returned to baseline after 30 min. High Pb dose progressively lowered CBF by 11% 15 min after drug injection and produced a significant decrease by 20% (p < 0.01) 30 min after drug injection with return to baseline after 60 min. Similar effects were noted in different brain regions (cerebrum and thalamus). CMRO2 remained unchanged in the control group; however, it was decreased by 35% (< 0.01 p > 0.05) 15 min after drug injection and returned to baseline after 60 min. In group III, high Pb dose lowered CMRO2 by 31% 30 min (p = 0.02) after drug injection. Data indicate that Pb exerts a minimal but transient dose-dependent effect on CBF and CMRO2.