Myoinositol turnover in the intact brain of conscious and anesthetized rabbits

Turnover of myo-inositol in the intact brain of the conscious or anesthetized rabbit was estimated from the rate of appearance of endogenous myo-inositol in the cerebroventricular compartment. The rate of appearance of brain-produced myoinositol was determined by isotope dilution during ventriculo-cisternal perfusion with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing [14C]myoinositol. Removal of the labelled compound from the perfusate was also determined. A mean value of 5.6 nmol/min was obtained for the rate of appearance of cerebral myoinositol in conscious rabbits. Pentobarbital anesthesia caused a 30% decrease in the rate of appearance of myoinositol in the perfusate without significantly altering its fractional rate of removal.