Effects of temperature on the oxygen consumption in thin slices from different brain regions

The oxygen consumption of brain slices from 12 different regions of the guinea pig brain was measured and the effects of temperature on the consumption was investigated. At 37 degrees C the oxygen consumption in cerebral gray matter and inferior colliculus was higher than that of other regions, whilst the consumption in cerebral white matter and brainstem was approximately half of that in cerebral gray matter. In any region lowering the tissue temperature from 37 to 28 degrees C reduced the oxygen consumption by 6-8% of the value obtained at 37 degrees C per one degree. At 21 degrees C the consumption was decreased to 15% of the value obtained at 37 degrees C. It is notable that the consumption in hippocampal slices tested was remarkably increased by raising the temperature up to 50 degrees C and no consumption was observed at 55 degrees C.