Oxidative metabolism of the brain in the experimental cerebral edema

The interrelation of the cerebral water content on the activity of some cerebral enzymes was studied in dogs with experimental edema of the brain. NAD-specific isocitric dehydrogenase, glutamyl transferase and acid phosphatase activity were found to be increased in the edematous cerebral tissue, while succinic dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutaric dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity were unmodified; 2,4-dinitrophenol did not induce depression of the ability of edematous cerebral tissue to oxidize isocitrate, α-ketoglutarate and succinate. These observations suggest that the effect of cerebral edema may be related to decreased high-energy phosphate metabolism with subsequent alteration of oxidative phosphorilation of some substrates.