R. Mollanji et al., Intracranial pressure accommodation is impaired by blocking pathways leading to extracranial lymphatics, AM J P-REG, 280(5), 2001, pp. R1573-R1581
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Physiology
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Tracer studies indicate that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) transport can occur
through the cribriform plate into the nasal submucosa, where it is absorbed
by cervical lymphatics. We tested the hypothesis that sealing the cribrifo
rm plate extracranially would impair the ability of the CSF pressure-regula
ting systems to compensate for volume infusions. Sheep were challenged with
constant flow or constant pressure infusions of artificial CSF into the CS
F compartment before and after the nasal mucosal side of the cribriform pla
te was sealed. With both infusion protocols, the intracranial pressure (ICP
) vs. flow rate relationships were shifted significantly to the left when t
he cribriform plate was blocked. This indicated that obstruction of the cri
briform plate reduced CSF clearance. Sham surgical procedures had no signif
icant effects. Estimates of the proportional flow through cribriform and no
ncribriform routes suggested that cranial CSF absorption occurred primarily
through the cribriform plate at low ICPs. Additional drainage sites (arach
noid villi or other lymphatic pathways) appeared to be recruited only when
intracranial pressures were elevated. These data challenge the conventional
view that CSF is absorbed principally via arachnoid villi and provide furt
her support for the existence of several anatomically distinct cranial CSF
transport pathways.