Effect of certain drugs on cerebrospinal fluid production in the dog

¹ Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Service, National Cancer Institute, and Theoretical Statistics and Mathematics Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production rates were measured in the dog by ventriculocisternal perfusion with inulin containing buffer. Normal CSF production rate was found to be about 0.05 ml/min which represents a turnover of 0.4%/min. After intravenous administration of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, acetazolamide and methazolamide, a 40–50% decrease in CSF production occurred. An increase in plasma pCO₂, by allowing the animals to inhale 95% oxygen, 5% CO₂, did not result in any significant change in CSF production. Both intravenous and intrathecal administration of varying doses of the cardiac glycoside, ouabain, did not cause any significant change in CSF production rates. It is concluded that CSF production, in part, is controlled by a carbonic anhydrase system.

Key Words: carbonic anhydrase inhibitors • acetazolamide • methazolamide • cardiac glycosides • CSF production • effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors • CSF production • effects of cardiac glycosides • ventriculocisternal perfusion

Submitted on June 18, 1963

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