title: Regional blood flow distribution during the Cushing response: alterations with adrenergic blockade.
abstract: Regional blood flow distribution (microspheres) and cardiac output (CO, thermal dilution) were measured during the Cushing response in unblocked (UB), beta-receptor-blocked (BB, 2 mg/kg propranolol iv), or alpha-receptor blocked (AB, 0.5 mg/kg + 0.5 mg X kg-1 X min-1 phentolamine iv) chloralose-anesthetized dogs. Intracranial pressure was increased to 150 mmHg by infusion of temperature-controlled artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the cisterna magna. Similar increases in mean arterial pressure were seen in UB and BB, but in AB a Cushing response could not be sustained. In UB, cerebral blood flow (CBF) decreased 50%, coronary blood flow (CoBF) increased 120%, and peripheral tissue blood flow was reduced only in the kidneys (18%) and the intestines (small 22%, large 35%). Blood flow to the other viscera, skin, and skeletal muscle was unchanged. CO (16%) and heart rate (HR, 38%) decreased, and total peripheral resistance (TPR, 68%) and stroke volume (SV, 38%) increased. In BB, CBF decreased 50%, CoBF decreased 20%, and blood flow was reduced 40-80% in all peripheral tissues. CO (69%) and HR (62%) decreased, TPR increased 366%, and SV was unchanged. We conclude that the Cushing response in UB animals combines an alpha-receptor-mediated vasoconstriction with a beta-receptor cardiac stimulation. The beta-mechanism is neither necessary nor sufficient for the hypertension. However, the combination of alpha- and beta-adrenergic mechanisms maintains cardiac output and peripheral tissue blood flow relatively constant while producing a systemic hypertension.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: van Wylen
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: D'Alecy
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D010827:Physiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists