Cerebral cortical vasodilatation in response to stimulation of cholinergic fibres originating in the nucleus basalis of Meynert.
The recent works in our laboratory, concerning neural regulation of the cerebral cortical blood flow by intracranial cholinergic nerve fibres originating in the magnocellular nucleus of the basal forebrain (nucleus basalis of Meynert), are introduced. Unilateral focal stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert, either electrical or chemical, increased blood flow in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex in rats anesthetized with urethane or halothane. These vasodilator responses were almost completely abolished by intravenous administrations of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic blocking agents (atropine 0.5 mg/kg and mecamylamine 2 mg/kg). Electrical or chemical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert increased acetylcholine release in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex. These data suggest that intracranial cholinergic fibres originating in the nucleus basalis of Meynert and projecting to the cerebral cortex contribute to the vasodilatation of the cortical blood vessels.
Sato
A
A
Department of Physiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Japan.
Sato
Y
Y
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D005971:Glutamates; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008464:Mecamylamine; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine