Barriers and fluids that connect and divide blood, brain, and neurons

Methodology — Tags: , , , — 11:07 am

BRAIN EXTRACELLULAR FLUID

Read also: The History of Artificial Cerebrospinal Fluid (ACSF)

The brain is protected by a rigid bony case so it cannot expand in the case of fluid imbalance. Because of that, the brain needs to tightly control the flux across the cerebral capillaries and this line of defence or restriction of chemical communications between blood and brain, called blood-brain barrier, was introduced by the work of Erhlich et al., in nineteenth century and the classic experiment of Goldman confirmed the concept of the blood-brain barrier (reviewed in 1). (more…)

The History of Artificial Cerebrospinal Fluid (ACSF)

Methodology — Tags: , , , — 7:54 am

 

For the ACSF updates in 2009 to 2011 -> see Sweet & sour recipes for the brain 

ACSF from 1934 to 1950.

 


 

  

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1934

 

 Alexis F. Hartmann developed several solutions for replacement of lost physiological fluids in clinics The solutions didn’t include glucose but one of them contained 27 mM Na-lactate. This solution is still in clinical use. Hartmann, A. F. (1934) Theory and practice of parenteral fluid administration. JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc., 103, 1349±1354.

 

 
 

1949

 

 A modification of one of Hartman’s solutions was developed, mimicking the cerebro-spinal fluid This solution mimicked natural CSF: 21.7 mM HCO3 was close to 21.1 mM observed in CSF although it contained 4.5 mM glucose, almost 1.5 times higher than in CSF Elliott, K. A. and Jasper, H. H. (1949) Physiological salt solutions for brain surgery; studies of local pH and pial vessel reactions to buffered and unbuffered isotonic solutions. J Neurosurg, 6, 140-152.
 

1950- current

 

 

 

 

 The term “artificial cerebrospinal fluid” (ACSF) introduced ACSF is used in clinics and in experiments on brain slices Elliott, K. A.and Lewis, R. C. (1950) Clinical uses of an artificial cerebrospinal fluid. J Neurosurg, 7, 256-260.
Amazingly, but in 1950, the history of ACSF stops and in the neuroscience labs, researchers working with brain slices still use the same ACSF (although since that time, the knowledge about neuronal biochemical needs significantly progressed).
“The natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)… attempts to simulate not the milieu surrounding the brain’s cells but rather the more easily accessible (and hence analyzable) fluid in the ventricular system. Recipes for artificial CSF (ACSF) vary, often quite widely, between labs. Moreover, commercially available ‘ACSF’… has a composition that is known to be different from that of the CSF” (E.C. McNay, R.S. Sherwin / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 132 (2004) 35–43).

Amazingly, but in 1950, the history of ACSF stops and in the neuroscience labs, researchers working with brain slices still use the same ACSF (although since that time, the knowledge about neuronal biochemical needs significantly progressed).

“The natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)… attempts to simulate not the milieu surrounding the brain’s cells but rather the more easily accessible (and hence analyzable) fluid in the ventricular system. Recipes for artificial CSF (ACSF) vary, often quite widely, between labs. Moreover, commercially available ‘ACSF’… has a composition that is known to be different from that of the CSF” (E.C. McNay, R.S. Sherwin / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 132 (2004) 35–43).

 

Related reading: Barriers and fluids that connect and divide blood, brain, and neurons

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