title: Innervation of cerebral arteries by nerves containing 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline.
abstract: Noradrenaline (NA)-containing nerves, mainly originating in the sympathetic superior cervical ganglia, supply large and small cerebral arteries. In large cerebral arteries, nerves containing serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) may represent neuronal uptake of circulating 5-HT by sympathetic nerves. 5-HT-containing nerves supplying small pial vessels probably have a central origin in the dorsal raphe nucleus. In most species, NA is a weak vasoconstrictor (alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptors), while 5-HT is a potent vasoconstrictor (5-HT2 or 5-HT1-like receptors) of large cerebral arteries. In contrast, both NA and 5-HT tend to cause vasodilatation in small pial vessels and arterioles. Adrenergic and serotonergic transmission can be modulated by pH, a range of putative neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and by the endothelium. Sumatriptan, a 5-HT1-like receptor agonist, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of migraine. Changes in NA- or 5-HT-containing nerves and/or in the responses of cerebral vessels to NA and 5-HT have been observed in a variety of vascular disorders, including cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lincoln
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine