Exchange of Albumin Between Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

The exchange of I131-tagged albumin, administered intraven., between plasma and cisternal fluid was studied in normal dogs. The appearance time of iodoalbumin in cisternal fluid was less than 40 min. The equilibrium time, representing the mixing of the spinal fluid albumin with the plasma albumin pool, occurred about 20 hrs. after injn. The avg. turnover times of the albumin in plasma and cisternal fluid were 6.3 and 8 days, respectively. The CSF albumin is in dynamic equilibrium with the plasma albumin pool. It is suggested that the delayed appearance and equilibrium times and turnover rate are functions of the blood-CSF barrier.