Abstract
With combined microdialysis and hydrogen clearance techniques for simultaneous local delivery of drugs and blood-flow measurement in the rat hindlimb sensory-motor cortex, we examined the role of nitric oxide in cerebral blood-flow regulation during sciatic nerve stimulation. Infusion of 1 mM nitric oxide synthase antagonist, N eta-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), blocked the cortical blood-flow response to sciatic nerve stimulation (152 +/- 43 ml.min-1.100 g-1 of tissue in controls and 73 +/- 11 ml.min-1.100 g-1 in the presence of L-NAME; P less than 0.05). Addition of 10 mM L-arginine to the dialysate containing L-NAME partially restored the hyperemic response to nerve stimulation (125 ml.min-1.100 g-1). L-NAME also produced a decrease in baseline cerebral blood flow when compared with the control (66 +/- 14 ml.min-1.100 g-1 vs. 93 +/- 25 ml.min-1.100 g-1). We conclude that nitric oxide from activated neurons participates in the local regulation of cortical blood flow in response to sciatic nerve stimulation and also in the maintenance of basal cortical blood flow.
Published Version (Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.