Thirty-six adult, male unanesthetized goats were hyperventilated to a Pacoj level of 16-18 nun Hg for 6 hours. Arterial and sagittal sinus blood and cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed for pH, blood gases, bicarbonate, lactate, and pymvate before hyperventilation, during hyperventilation, and after the termination of hyperventilation. Total cerebral blood flow, regional brain blood flows, and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen were calculated from the distribution of radioactive microspheres. Intracranial pressure was measured in either the right or left cerebral ventricle. With the initiation of hyperventilation, cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen fell significantly (64 ± 5 ml/100 g/min to 41 ± 3; 4.6 ± 0.3 ml O 2 /100 g/min to 3.6 ± 0.2), but both returned to prehyperventilation values within 6 hours of hyperventilation. With termination of hyperventilation, cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen increased significantly above control levels (64 ± 5 vs. 105 ± 9; 4.6 ± 0.3 vs. 5.4 ± 0.4). Intracranial pressure was unaffected by hyperventilation or its termination. Arterial and sagittal sinus blood and cerebrospinal fluid pH increased with hyperventilation but returned to control values by 6 hours. However, pH was still significantly elevated at 6 hours. Lactate and pyruvate followed a similar pattern except in the cerebrospinal fluid, where both increased throughout the course of hyperventilation. There were no significant differences in the lactate: pyruvate ratio. On termination of hyperventilation, pH of the arterial and sagittal sinus blood and cerebrospinal fluid fell below control levels. Bicarbonate values decreased in all fluid compartments and were still below control values 2 hours after the cessation of hyperventilation. Blood flows to the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, medulla, and cerebellum fell significantly with hyperventilation and, with the exception of the thalamus, all recovered during hyperventilation. On termination of hyperventilation, blood flows to the cortex, thalamus, medulla, and cerebellum increased significantly above control values. Only the brainstem (except the medulla) appeared unresponsive to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation had little effect on mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Received December 4, 1985; accepted December 22, 1986. els, 34 but not all studies have shown a recovery of CBF during hyperventilation.5 -6 Because a sustained reduction in CBF is central to the theory of hyperventilation therapy, one would think that the behavior of CBF during extended hyperventilation would be understood and well documented. The absence of consensus on this crucial point clearly suggests a need for studies concerned with the physiologic effects of prolonged hyperventilation. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the effects of protracted hyperventilation on CBF, cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2), and other cerebral parameters in normal, unanesthetized goats. Hopeful...