Pathologenesis of hematogenous bacterial meningitis in rabbits

The authors present data obtained from a series of 27 rabbits studied following intracarotid injection of saline, brain-heart infusion broth, aerobic, or anaerobic bacteria. These data support the hypothesis that injections of cultures of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms by way of the carotid artery disrupts the blood-brain barrier over the cerebral convexities within 15 minutes; however, the inflammatory response and bacterial proliferation occur much more rapidly in the ventricular system. Within 3 hours,the barrier over the convexities is intact, but leukocytes and organisms may be seen in the long cilia of the aqeuductal region. A relative failure of leucotaxis over the convexities of the brain is the most likely explanation of these preliminary findings in this experimental model.