Effects of reduced CSF Na concentration and osmolality on haemodynamic and humoral responses to hypotensive haemorrhage in conscious sheep

Abstract

The effects of iso- and hypo-osmotic reduction of the CSF [Na+] on the tolerance to blood loss and concomitant cardiovascular and humoral responses were studied in conscious sheep. Animals only subjected to haemorrhage served as controls. The changes in CSF composition were induced by intracerebroventricular infusions of 0.3 M mannitol, respectively, 0.04 M NaCl. In the former instance the CSF [Na+] was reduced by 18 mM whereas a lowering by 13 mM concomitant with decreased CSF osmolality (mean change 25 mOsm kg-1) was seen in response to the NaCl solution. Apart from a slight lowering of the cardiac output during the infusion of 0.3 M mannitol preceding haemorrhage, the changes in CSF composition did not have any significant haemodynamic effects in the normovolaemic animal, or altered the cardiovascular responses to a subsequent hypotensive haemorrhage. The amount of blood needed to be withdrawn to obtain the predefined degree of hypotension did not differ significantly between treatment groups. The plasma vasopressin and angiotensin II concentrations were consistently increased by the hypotensive haemorrhage, but the magnitude of the vasopressin response was significantly reduced when the CSF [Na+] was lowered. We conclude that lowered CSF [Na+] and/or osmolality, in contrast to increased CSF [Na+], does not influence the tolerance to blood loss or the accompanying haemodynamic changes in sheep, in spite of an attenuated vasopressin response.