Separation of changes in light scattering and chromophore concentrations during cortical spreading depression in rats

We used near-infrared spectroscopy to separate tissue scattering changes from changes in cerebral oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin and the redox state of cytochrome- c -oxidase. A separate term of the transport scattering coefficient (micro(s)(?)) was included in a modified Lambert-Beer equation. It is shown by diffusion equation analysis that there is a simple relationship between the differential path-length factor (D(a)) and its scattering equivalent (D(s)) . The method was applied to cortical spreading depression (CSD) data recorded through the skulls of rats. Biphasic changes in micro(s)(?)of +/-0.1mm(-1)were observed during CSD's that spread with a velocity of ~5mm/min . The method proposed has the promise to permit monitoring of scattering changes noninvasively in humans during cortical activation or pathophysiological conditions.