STIMULATION OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PRODUCTION BY LOW DOSES OF INTRAVENTRICULAR OUABAIN

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production was measured by ventriculocisternal perfusion with inulin containing CSF-like buffer in anesthetized cats using low concentrations of intraventricular ouabain, 10^-9 M to 10^-14 M. Definite stimulation of CSF production, averaging about 45%, was noted at 1O^-10 M, with no significant changes at the other concentrations. Na-K adenosine triphosphatase was assayed in cat choroid plexus in vitro, using standard methods and varying ouabain concentrations. Stimulation of Na-K-activated activity was noted between 10^-9 and 10^-12 M ouabain; however, the results were not entirely consistent. It is concluded that CSF production in the cat is another example of a system where one can observe a biphasic effect of varying doses of ouabain: inhibition of flow and choroid plexus enzyme activity at high doses, and stimulation of both modalities at low, "pharmacologic" doses.

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