An in Vitro Model of Cytotoxic Brain Edema: Cell Volume and Metabolism of Cultivated Glial- and Nerve-Cells

Abstract

Cytotoxic brain edema, i.e. swelling of nerve- and glial elements is a common result of cerebral ischemia, metabolic disorders, intoxications, and develops secondarily in vasogenic edema. Contrary to vasogenic brain edema, the mechanisms causing cytotoxic edema are far from being understood. Studies of this edema type under in-vivo conditions are obscured by the multitude of simultaneous changes occurring in brain after a cytotoxic insult, e.g. breakdown of intra-extracellular ion gradients, release of metabolites and eventually toxic substances into the extracellular space (ECS), dysregulation of neurotransmitter homeostasis, and abnormalities of the extracellular pH and PO₂. Since it is impossible to monitor or even control these factors simultaneously in-vivo, we have developed an in-vitro model to examine the mechanisms of cytotoxic cell swelling under strictly controlled conditions. For that purpose, measurements of cell volume of cultured nerve- and glial cells were performed together with parameters of cell metabolism, as e.g. O₂-consumption.

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Ba 452/5

The excellent technical assistance of ULRIKE GOERKE, ANGELIKA MÜLLER and SYLVIA SCHNEIDER is gratefully acknowledged