[Dynamics of changes in brain metabolism in experimental peritonitis]

The condition of metabolic processes in the brain during the development of experimental peritonitis was studied in experiments on 100 unisexual pubertal rats weighting from 250 to 300 g. Blood samples were studied for the content of total protein, albumin, urea, total lipids, cholesterol, B-lipoproteins, and glucose with calculation of the arteriovenous difference (AVD) of each of these substrates. Marked phase changes in the character of metabolism of total protein, albumin, total lipids, B-lipoproteins, and glucose occur in the brain of rats with experimental peritonitis. It was found that energy and plastic substances were "washed out" of the brain of rats in the terminal stages of experimental peritonitis. In view of this it is pointed out that the complex of therapeutic measures applied in peritonitis must be critically revised and supplemented with agents which improve brain metabolism.