Mechanism of Hypoglycorrhachia in Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis.

Abstract

Thirteen dogs made leukopenic with total body irradiation and 12 normal dogs were given 105 viable pneumococci into the subarachnoid space through a mid-line burr hole. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was sampled daily and leukocytes, bacteria and sugar determined. In leukopenic aniMais CSF leukocytes did not rise and sugar failed to decrease. The number of bacteria were the same in norMai and irradiated aniMais. CSF sugar did not fall in controls with sterile meningitis. The results suggest that both cells and bacteria are necessary for production of hypoglycorrhachia in experimental meningitis.