Abstract

The vasculature in the brain is an actively regulated organ which, on the one hand, is influenced by global changes of systemic parameters (systemic blood pressure, blood gases, and blood pH) and, on the other hand, is capable of locally directing the blood to the regions of demand with high spatial and temporal resolution. Together with pericytes and astrocytes, as part of the neurovascular unit, cerebral vascular endothelium forms the tight blood-brain barrier and has an important immuno-regulatory function. Within this book chapter the main principles of the vascular architecture and the cellular components at the neurovascular unit forming the blood-brain barrier will be described before summarizing the main mechanisms of global blood flow regulation to changes in systemic parameters as well as giving an overview on the local regulation according to the cellular demand during neuronal activation.

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