title: Erythrocytes Are Oxygen-Sensing Regulators of the Cerebral Microcirculation.
abstract: Energy production in the brain depends almost exclusively on oxidative metabolism. Neurons have small energy reserves and require a continuous supply of oxygen (O2). It is therefore not surprising that one of the hallmarks of normal brain function is the tight coupling between cerebral blood flow and neuronal activity. Since capillaries are embedded in the O2-consuming neuropil, we have here examined whether activity-dependent dips in O2 tension drive capillary hyperemia. In vivo analyses showed that transient dips in tissue O2 tension elicit capillary hyperemia. Ex vivo experiments revealed that red blood cells (RBCs) themselves act as O2 sensors that autonomously regulate their own deformability and thereby flow velocity through capillaries in response to physiological decreases in O2 tension. This observation has broad implications for understanding how local changes in blood flow are coupled to synaptic transmission.
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Helen Shinru
authors: HS
authors: Wei
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Hongyi
authors: H
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Izad-Yar Daniel
authors: ID
authors: Rasheed
authors: Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.
authors: Sitong
authors: S
authors: Zhou
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Nanhong
authors: N
authors: Lou
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Gershteyn
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors: Evan Daniel
authors: ED
authors: McConnell
authors: Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA; School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Beijing 100083, China.
authors: Yixuan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Kristopher Emil
authors: KE
authors: Richardson
authors: William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors: Andre Francis
authors: AF
authors: Palmer
authors: School of Applied & Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA. Electronic address: jdween@rit.edu.
authors: Jiandi
authors: J
authors: Wan
authors: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: nedergaard@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors: Maiken
authors: M
authors: Nedergaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen