SUMMARY The possibility that cerebral ischemia or cerebral hypoxia may initiate a series of free radical reactions in brain tissue lipid constituents was explored by measuring sequential changes in chemiluminescence values and energy metabolism during brain hypoxia in the rat. Brain hypoxia was induced by means of arterial hypoxemia (PaO 2 17-22 mmHg), normocapnia (PaCO 2 28-38 mmHg) and normotension (MABP 100-140 mmHg). To obtain lowered PaO 2 , 4% O 2 -96% N 2 mixed gas was used. Analysis of the chemiluminescence spectra for the purpose of luminous mechanism investigation was again attempted. No peroxidation occurred in the pre-hypoxic state since there were no photon counts. Chemiluminescence began to rise in the hypoxic state and remained at a high value in the post-hypoxic state. Specifically in the hypoxic state, the 3 min period showed 231 ± 35 counts/10 sec-g (n = 5) and the 5 min period showed 154 ± 62 (n = 19) counts/10 sec-g. In the post-hypoxic state, the 5 min period showed 217 ± 79 counts/10 sec-g (n = 9) and the 30 min period showed a decrease similar to the pre-hypoxlc state. The chemiluminescence spectroanaljsis showed five peaks in wavelength at 480 nm, 520-530 nm, 570 nm, 620-640 nm and 680-700 nm. Sequential changes in energy metabolism revealed that hypoxia caused marked brain lactic acidosis, an increase in both ADP and pyruvate, and a fall in glucose. However, all metabolites recovered at 30 min in the post-hypoxic state, which suggests this was reversible brain hypoxia. Sequential changes in chemiluminescence values and energy metabolism imply the occurrence of free radical reaction in the hypoxic and posthypoxic brain. The spectroanalysis reveals the luminous mechanism as follows: 'Ag + 'Ag -» 2 3 O 2 + h/x Stroke Vol 15, No 6, 1984 IN RECENT YEARS THE AUTO-OXIDATION of unsaturated fatty acids has been suggested as one of the primary factors in the acute stage pathology of the ischemic or hypoxic brain.'" 4 It has been difficult to detect the free radical reactions and further uncertainties remain with regard to the correlation between the period during which lipid peroxidation occurs and the energy metabolism of the brain.5 " 9In the present study, we have followed the sequential changes of chemiluminescence and energy metabolism during a period of both induced hypoxia and oxygen resupply by using supratentorial tissue of hypoxic rat brain (PaO 2 , 17-22 mmHg).Chemiluminescence analysis is a new technique in which the propagation or termination of free radical reaction is thought to appear when singlet oxygen has been transmitted to the triplet oxygen.10 " 15 The results obtained using this new technique were found to be in agreement with the free radical reaction as determined simultaneously from the perspective of energy metabolism.
Experimental Materials and MethodsFor the purpose of this study, 142 male Wister rats (250-280 g) were used. In the chemiluminescence value study, 9 rats were sacrificed at pre-hypoxia, 5 at hypoxia-3 min, 19 at hypoxia-5 min, 9 at post-hypoxia-5 min, a...