A Study of the Effects of Various Levels of Cranially Applied Electricity on Passage of Glucose from Cerebral Circulation into the Brain

Abstract

The problem. Electricity, as a controlled energy, has been utilized in many capacities with varying degrees of success. Among these applications is Electroanesthesia (EA). Much is known about the gross effects induced on physiological systems while a subject is experiencing EA, but little is known about the effects on glucose transport into the brain. Procedure. Thirty male rats were subdivided into 6 groups of 5 each, 1 serving as the control and the remaining 5 as experimental. The right common carotid artery was surgically exposed in all rats and a solution of 3HOH, Glucose-u-14C, and physiological saline was injected cephalically with decapitation 15 seconds later. The right rostral, ipsilateral portion of the brain was then extracted and prepared for scintillation counting. The experimental groups received 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 milliwatts respectively for 3 minutes and 45 seconds prior to injection. Nine separate counts were run on each sample of brain tissue. Findings. Examination of the 3H and 14C disintegrations per minute showed no difference between the control and experimental groups in uptake of the Glucose-U-14C as compared to the freely diffusing 3HOH indicator. Conclusions. Statistical analysis of the resulting data indicates no significant change of glucose passage across the blood-brain barrier into the brain tissue between control and experimental groups. Recommendations. The parameters of this study did not include the effects produced by electricity at levels other than the 5 investigated. Future studies should encompass a wider scope of electricity levels, regulation of the injection speed, and use of a chemical anesthetic which does not depress metabolism.