[Regional blood flow in the ethylnitrosourea induced rat glioma (author's transl)]

Regional cerebral blood flow of rat brains bearing ethylnitrosourea induced glioma of various size was investigated with 14C-antipyrine autoradiography. In the small tumors (less than 2 mm in diameter), blood flow was uniformly reduced when compared to the adjacent brain. Even in tiny tumors (0.3-0.4 mm in diameter), reduction in blood flow was evident. In the medium (2-4 mm in diameter) and large (greater than 4 mm in diameter) tumors, the blood flow increased in the viable center of the tumor and decreased in the necrosis and peripheral edge. High blood flow in the viable center may be attributable to the neovascularization of the tumor. Blood flow in the brain tissue adjacent to medium and large tumors was lower than control brain tissue probably due to local edema. This reduction in blood flow may be partly attributable to the appearances of the focal neurologic deficits. The result obtained may provide some information about growth regulation of glioma and also pharmacokinetic delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to the malignant brain tumors.