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During infection and inflammation, a reduced oxygen level clearly affects cellular functions. Oxygen levels during CNS infections are unknown. Here we established and evaluated an in vivo measurement system to characterize the oxygen level in parallel with bacterial numbers (CFU/mL), the cell number and pH level inside the CSF of healthy compared to Streptococcus suis-infected pigs. The animals were anesthetized over a seven-hour period with isoflurane in air/oxygen at physiologic arterial partial pressure of oxygen. Oxygen levels in CSF of anesthetized pigs were compared to euthanized pigs. The detected partial pressure of oxygen in the CSF remained constant in a range of 47–63 mmHg, independent of the infection status (bacterial or cell number). In contrast, the pH value showed a slight drop during infection, which correlated with cell and bacterial number in CSF. We present physiologic oxygen and pH values in CSF during the onset of bacterial meningitis.

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SummaryBackgroundIschaemic postconditioning (IPoC) has been shown to ameliorate ischaemia reperfusion injury in different species and tissues.ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility of IPoC in equine small intestinal ischaemia and to assess its effect on histomorphology, electrophysiology and paracellular permeability.Study designrandomized controlled terminal in vivo experimentMethodsExperimental jejunal ischaemia was induced for 90 min in horses under general anaesthesia. In the control group (C; n=7), the jejunum was reperfused without further intervention. In the postconditioning group (P; n=7), IPoC was implemented by clamping the mesenterial vessels after ischaemia. This was followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion in both groups. Intestinal microperfusion and oxygenation was measured during IPoC using spectrophotometry and Doppler fluxmetry. Histomorphology and histomorphometry of the intestinal mucosa were assessed. Furthermore, electrophysiological variables and unidirectional fluxrates of 3H-mannitol were determined in Ussing chambers. Western Blot analysis was performed to determine the tight junction protein levels of Claudin-1, Claudin-2 and Occludin in the intestinal mucosa. Comparisons between the groups and time points were performed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA or non-parametric statistical tests for the ordinal and not normally distributed data (significance p<0.05).ResultsPostconditioning significantly reduced intestinal microperfusion during all clamping cycles, yet affected tissue oxygenation only during the first cycle. After reperfusion, group IPoC showed significantly less mucosal villus denudation (mean difference 21.5 %, p=0.02) and decreased mucosal-to-serosal fluxrates (mean difference 15.2 nM/cm2/h, p=0.007) compared to group C. There were no significant differences between the groups for the other tested variables.Main limitationssmall sample size, long term effects were not investigated.ConclusionsFollowing ischaemic postconditioning, the intestinal mucosa demonstrated significantly less villus denudation and paracellular permeability compared to the untreated control group, possibly indicating a protective effect of IPoC on ischaemia reperfusion injury.

High-definition oscillometry (HDO) over the metatarsal artery (MA) in anaesthetised horses has not yet been evaluated. This study aimed to assess agreement between HDO and invasive blood pressure (IBP) at the metatarsal artery, and to evaluate compliance with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus guidelines. In this experimental study, 11 horses underwent general anaesthesia for an unrelated, terminal surgical trial. Instrumentation included an IBP catheter in one and an HDO cuff placed over the contralateral MA, as well as thermodilution catheters. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and cardiac output were measured simultaneously. Normotension (MAP 61–119 mmHg) was maintained during the surgical study. Subsequently, hypotension (MAP ≤ 60 mmHg) and hypertension (MAP ≥ 120 mmHg) were induced pharmacologically. For MAP, the agreement between HDO and IBP was acceptable during normotension, while during hypotension and hypertension, IBP was overestimated and underestimated by HDO, respectively. The monitor failed to meet most ACVIM validation criteria. Consequently, if haemodynamic compromise or rapid blood pressure changes are anticipated, IBP remains preferable.