CSF acid-base regulation and ventilation in iso- and hypocapnic Hacetate acidosis

Intravenous infusion in conscious rabbits of Hacetate decreases both arterial CO2 partial pressure PaCO2 and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HCO3- more than observed with HCl or HNO3 infusion. These acids did not affect CSF HCO3- in isocapnic conditions, and this study asks whether Hacetate infusion will do so. Arterial, central venous, and cisterna magna catheters were implanted in pentobarbital-anesthetized rabbits and all subsequent measurements were performed in the conscious state. Hacetate was infused intravenously over 6 h to decrease plasma HCO3- the same amount in a group allowed to decrease its PaCO2 in response to the acid (hypocapnic) and one in which PaCO2 was maintained at control levels (isocapnic). CSF HCO3- decreased significantly in isocapnia, although the change was less than in hypocapnia. Stoichiometrically by 6 h the measured CSF HCO3- change was balanced by an increase in acetate in hypocapnia and the sum of an increase in acetate and a decrease in chloride in isocapnia. Mechanistically, net acetate entry into CSF appears to involve an exchange for chloride as proposed for NO3-/Cl- and a process that lowers CSF HCO3-. This process could be competitive replacement of HCO3- by acetate in the CSF production mechanism or nonionic diffusive entry of Hacetate into CSF with subsequent titration of HCO3-. The decreases in CSF HCO3- result from the acetate mechanism and the hypocapnic effect on Cl- and HCO3-. The greater ventilatory response results from the greater CSF acidification or a specific effect of acetate per se.