The influence of haematocrit and blood glucose on cerebral blood flow in normal and in diabetic rats.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured at varying haematocrit values in 8 streptozotocin-diabetic and in 7 control rats using the intracarotid "3Xe technique. A hyperbolic relationship between CBF and haematocrit was established for the individual rats in both groups. Diabetic animals showed a preserved CBF response to changes to haematocrit. In 10 normal rats, CBF was measured during acute hyperglycaemia induced by intraperitoneal glucose injection. A significant, inverse correlation was found between CBF and blood glucose. We conclude that the CBF response to changes in haematocrit and thereby in p02 is preserved in experimental diabetes. Secondly, in acute hyperglycaemia CBF varies inversely with blood glucose, by mechanisms not fully understood.