title: A slow or modulatory role of astrocytes in neurovascular coupling.
abstract: Astrocytes are thought to play an important role in NVC, a process that allows the brain to locally control blood flow in response to changes in activity. However, there is an ongoing debate as to when, and under what conditions astrocyte activity is required. In the following review we set forth the hypotheses that astrocytes: (i) act to modulate but not initiate functional hyperemia and (ii) help set the basal tone state of the brain microvasculature by the tonic release of vaso-active messengers. Through these actions astrocytes could help match metabolic demand with supply over a spectrum of activity timescales.
authors.affiliation: Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: David George
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Rosenegger
authors.forename: Grant Robert
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069336:Neurovascular Coupling
keywords: astrocytes; bloodflow; cerebral; functional hyperemia; neurovascular coupling