Effect of amiloride on cisternal fluid [HCO3-] in acute respiratory acidosis

In the present study we investigated if an amiloride inhibitable Na+ -H+ exchange mechanism may also be involved in the regulation of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [HCO3-] during acute respiratory acidosis (ARA). In anesthetized, paralyzed and ventilated dogs either mock CSF (group I, control) or mock CSF containing amiloride (group II) was injected into the cerebral lateral ventricles and ARA was induced by 8-10% CO2 breathing during 4 1/2 hours. During hypercapnia arterial PCO2 and plasma [HCO3-] rose respectively by about 35 mm Hg and 3 mmol/L in both groups. The rise in cisternal CSF PCO2 (about 40 mm Hg) was similar. However, changes in CSF [HCO3-] were significantly different between the two groups; in the control group, mean CSF [HCO3-] rose by 2.4, 4.1 and 4.4 mmol/L respectively, 1 1/2, 3 and 4 1/2 h after induction of ARA. In the amiloride group the respective rise was only 1.1, 2.5 and 2.5 mmol/L. The differences in CSF [HCO3-] could not be ascribed to differences in CSF lactate concentration. We conclude that an amiloride inhibitable Na+ -H+ exchange may play a role in the regulation of CSF [HCO3-] during acute respiratory acidosis in dogs.