Therapeutic cerebral hypothermia is widely used for the treatment of severe head injury and cerebral ischemia. The effects of cerebral hypothermia on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism, and cerebral vasculature in the normal brain were investigated. Thirty-four adult cats were divided into four groups. CBF was monitored by hydrogen clearance. Arteriovenous oxygen difference (AVDO2) and cerebral venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) were measured in blood samples from the superior sagittal sinus. The cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) were calculated. The cerebral blood volume (CBV) was measured using technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin in 12 cats. Deep cerebral temperature was cooled from 37 degrees C to 25 degrees C using a water-circulating blanket. In the hypothermia group (Group A: n = 10), CBF (51.2 +/- 8.3 ml 100 g-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C) decreased with lower brain temperature (6.1 +/- 2.7 at 25 degrees C). CMRO2 (2.24 +/- 0.75 ml 100 g-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C) was also decreased (0.52 +/- 0.20 at 25 degrees C). AVDO2 (4.3 +/- 1.0 ml 100 g-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C) increased significantly at 31 degrees C (6.6 +/- 1.8; p < 0.05) and ScvO2 (67.8 +/- 7.9% at 37 degrees C) decreased significantly at 29 degrees C (53.7 +/- 9.7; p < 0.05). CBV (5.3 +/- 1.2% at 37 degrees C) decreased significantly at 29 degrees C (3.7 +/- 1.0; p < 0.05) and CVR (3.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg ml-1 100 g-1 min-1 at 37 degrees C) increased significantly at 29 degrees C (13.8 +/- 5.2; p < 0.01). The combined effect of hypothermia with vasopressor (noradrenalin) (Group B: n = 6) or barbiturate (thiopental) administration (Group C: n = 6) on the cerebral metabolic parameters were also examined. Hypothermia with noradrenalin administration significantly improved the ischemic parameters (AVDO2 was 4.7 +/- 1.4 ml 100 g-1 min-1 at 31 degrees C and ScvO2 was 72.2 +/- 6.4% at 29 degrees C). However, hypothermia with barbiturate administration did not improve these metabolic parameters. These results suggest that hypothermia may cause vasoconstriction and misery perfusion in the brain. This potential risk of relative ischemia can be avoided by combination with vasopressor administration.