Recent insights into a new hydrodynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid

According to the traditional hypothesis, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is secreted inside the brain ventricles and flows unidirectionally along subarachnoid spaces to be absorbed into venous sinuses across arachnoid villi and/or via paraneural sheaths of nerves into lymphatics. However, according to recent investigations, it appears that interstial fluid (ISF) and CSF are formed by water filtration across the walls of arterial capillaries in the central nervous system (CNS), while plasma osmolytes are sieved (retained) so that capillary osmotic counterpressure is generated, which is instrumental in ISF/CSF water absorption into venous capillaries and postcapillary venules. This hypothesis is supported by experiments showing that water, which constitutes 99% of CSF and ISF bulk, does not flow along CSF spaces since it is rapidly absorbed into adjacent CNS microvessels, while distribution of other substances along CSF spaces depends on the rate of their removal into microvessels: faster removal means more limited distribution. Furthermore, the acute occlusion of aqueduct of Sylvius does not change CSF pressure in isolated ventricles, suggesting that the formation and the absorption of CSF are in balance. Multidirectional distribution of substances inside CSF, as well as between CSF and ISF, is caused by to-and-fro pulsations of these fluids and their mixing. Absorption of CSF into venous sinuses and/or lymphatics under the physiological pressure should be of minor importance due to their minute surface area in comparison to the huge absorptive surface area of microvessels.

Research highlights
► CNS microvessels are crucial in fluid filtration and reaabsorption inside CNS parenchyma and CSF.
► Osmotic pressure change in CNS microvessels is instrumental in regulation of ISF and CSF volumes.
► ISF and CSF are continuously mixed by to-and-fro fluis pulsations.
► Fluid pulsations distribute substances in all directions inside CSF system.
► Distribution of substances along CSF spaces depends on the rate of their removal into microvessels.