Role of the basilar artery in regulation of blood flow to the brain stem in rats

K FUJII; D. D HEISTAD; F. M FARACI

doi:10.1161/01.STR.22.6.763

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Role of the basilar artery in regulation of blood flow to the brain stem in rats

Journal article

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Role of the basilar artery in regulation of blood flow to the brain stem in rats

K FUJII, D. D HEISTAD and F. M FARACI

Stroke (1970), Vol.22(6), pp.763-767

1991

DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.22.6.763

PMID: 1905428

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Abstract

Large arteries contribute to the regulation of cerebral blood flow. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of changes in diameter of the basilar artery on blood flow to the brain stem. We measured blood flow with laser-Doppler flowmetry in anesthetized rats. The topical application of 10(-6) M serotonin, which selectively constricts large arteries, reduced diameter of the basilar artery by 47 +/- 5% (mean +/- SEM, n = 6) but did not alter blood flow to the ventral brain stem (change in blood flow -2 +/- 5%). The topical application of 10(-8) M vasopressin, which affects both large and small vessels, decreased blood flow by 33 +/- 4% (n = 6). In rats with spontaneous vasomotion, the basilar artery showed rhythmic changes in diameter at a frequency of 4.0 +/- 0.1 cycles/min and an amplitude of 20 +/- 1% of mean diameter (n = 6). Blood flow to the ventral brain stem cycled at the same frequency as and in phase with changes in diameter of the basilar artery, with an amplitude of 15 +/- 1%. We conclude that constriction of the basilar artery may occur with no change in brain stem perfusion. The distinct changes in blood flow during spontaneous vasomotion suggest that vasomotion occurs in intraparenchymal arterioles as well as in the basilar artery.

Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs

Biological and medical sciences

Cerebral circulation. Blood-brain barrier. Choroid plexus. Cerebrospinal fluid. Circumventricular organ. Meninges

Details

Title: Subtitle: Role of the basilar artery in regulation of blood flow to the brain stem in rats
Creators: K FUJII - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, dep. internal medicine, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
D. D HEISTAD - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, dep. internal medicine, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
F. M FARACI - Univ. Iowa coll. medicine, dep. internal medicine, Iowa City IA 52242, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Stroke (1970), Vol.22(6), pp.763-767
DOI: 10.1161/01.STR.22.6.763
PMID: 1905428
NLM abbreviation: Stroke
ISSN: 0039-2499
eISSN: 1524-4628
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Hagerstown, MD
Language: English
Date published: 1991
Academic Unit: Cardiovascular Medicine; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984040445502771

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