EFFECTS OF SURGERY AND ASPHYXIA ON LEVELS OF NUCLEOSIDES, PURINE BASES, AND LACTATE IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF FETAL LAMBS

CSF: in the surviving group levels increased steadily, recovery values being significantly elevated compared with asphyxia values, whereas in the nonsurviving group the rise was rapid and levels during asphyxia did not differ significantly from levels during recovery. We conclude that I) catheterization of the spinal cistern leads to increased levels of CSF hypoxanthine, xanthine, and inosine, and 2) during fetal asphyxia, levels of these ATP catabolites and lactate in CSF increase. 3) Maximum levels are reached during the recovery period and are similar for surviving and nonsurviving animals, but during asphyxia CSF levels of hypoxanthine and lactate were higher in the nonsurviving fetuses. 4) The rate of increase of ATP catabolites in CSF is higher in the nonsurviving animals and may therefore be predictive for fetal death. (Pediatr Res 36: 595-600, 1994)