Effect of hyperventilation on dynamics of cerebral energy metabolism

Hypocapnia of moderate and extreme degree (Paco2 21.1 and 13.5 torr, respectively)was induced by hyperventilation in rats subjected to the closed system of Lowry inorder to evaluate the effects on utilization rate of cerebral energy metabolites. The tissue levels of high-energy phosphates and calculated intracellular pH did not change, whereas glucose, pyruvate, and lactate increased significantly. The La/Pyratio and NADH/NAD-+ RATIO BOTH INCREASED IN PROPORTION TO THE DEGREE OF HYPOCAPNIA. Utilization rates of glucose, glycogen, and ATP were all significantly reduced by hypocapnia, whereas the utilization rate of phosphocreatine was increased. The rate oftotal high-energy phosphate use was also diminished in proportion to the degree of hypocapnia. The constant value of the energy charge (0.94 plus or minus 0.01) indicates that the energy production rate might also be reduced by hyperventilation; thus the intermediate metabolics and substrates increased. It is concluded that extreme hypocapnia reduces the rate of cerebral energy metabolism significantly.