Spinal cord damage during and after thoracoabdominal aortic cross-clamping continues to be a major problem. Somatosensory and motor evoked potentials have been used to monitor spinal cord function but their value for predicting paraplegia has been controversial. The aim of this study was to measure biochemical markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and correlate changes with spinal cord ischemia. Since neural tissue utilizes only glucose as substrate for its metabolism and energy supply, we measured changes of metabolites of anaerobe glycolysis. In a canine model in which general anesthesia was used, the thoracoabdominal aorta was cross-clamped proximally and distally for 60 min. Hemodynamic parameters, blood gases, and glucose level were monitored continuously. Blood and CSF sampling were performed at baseline, at 15, 30, and 55 min during cross-clamping, and at 5 and 15 min after aortic declamping. Levels of lactate (1.7 +/- 0.1 to 3.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/L), pCO2 (43 +/- 2 to 35 +/- 1.6 mmHg), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) (5.17 +/- 0.5 to 13.0 +/- 3.5 mg/L) in CSF showed significant changes (p < 0.05) during clamping and reperfusion. Changes in CSF lactate and NSE levels correlate with the duration of spinal cord ischemia. These markers of ischemic metabolism appear suitable to monitor the degree of spinal cord ischemia during thoracoabdominal cross-clamping and may be useful to predict the efficacy of preventive methods.