title: Dissecting the Role of Smooth Muscle Cells versus Pericytes in Regulating Cerebral Blood Flow Using In Vivo Optical Imaging.
abstract: The brain regulates blood flow to match energy demand to nutrient supply. In this issue of Neuron, using in vivo optical imaging and optogenetics, Hill et al. (2015) report that arteriolar smooth muscle cells are key players in regulating cerebral blood flow in the healthy state and contribute to the "no reflow" phenomenon after ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cutforth
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: da191@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Dritan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agalliu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000502:physiology*