Brain adenosine production in rat during sustained alteration in systemic blood pressure

Brain production of adenosine and its metabolites, inosine and hypoxanthine was determined in 46 rats during sustained (5 min) reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) caused by hemorrhage. Also measured were ATP, ADP, AMP, phosphocreatine (PCr), and lactate. Brain tissue was obtained by the freeze-blowing technique. Ventilation was controlled to maintain constant arterial O2 tension, CO2 tension, and pH. When MABP was decreased from 135 + 3 (SE) mmHg to 72 +/- 2 mmHg, within the range of cerebral autoregulation, brain adenosine concentration doubled from 0.55 +/- 0.12 to 1.16 +/- 0.13 nmol/g (P < 0.015). Unlike the changes in adenosine concentrations, adenine nucleotides and PCr remained stable. Lactate varied inversely with MABP. With moderate to severe hypotension (MABP = 45 +/- 3 mmHg), adenosine levels increased almost sixfold. The increment in brain adenosine concentration within the autoregulatory range supports a role for this potent dilator of pial vessels in the regulation of cerebral blood flow.