Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation Flashcards
When does unconsciousness occur and irreversible damage?
If CBF interrupted for 4secs = unconsciousness
Few minutes = irreversible damage
Syncope?
Fainting
Common manifestation of reduced BS to the brain
Main principle energy source for the brain?
Glucose
[glucose] concentrations and impact?
Normal fasting levels = 4-6mM
If <2mM = unconsciousness, coma and death
How is CBF regulated?
x mechanisms affecting TOTAL CBF
x mechanisms with alter LOCALISED BF depending on activity
Auto-regulation range for CBF?
MABP 60-160mmHg
How is the CBF autoregulated to maintain the MABP?
Stretch-sensitive cerebral vascular SM
High BP - contracts
Low BP - relax
What can happen to the brain if the BP is too high?
Swelling of brain tissue as ‘closed’ cranium = intracranial pressure increases
What is local regulation mediated by?
Neural control
AND
Chemical control
How can local changes to CBF be measured?
Imaged on PET scans & fMRIs
Explain the vascularisation of the CNS
Arteries from the pia mater penetrate into the brain parenchyma –> form capillaries
These brain into veins/venules –> into the surface pial vessels
Relationship betw. neurone and capillary in the CNS
No neurone is >100um (micro) from a capillary
4 neural factors affecting CBF regulation?
- SN nerve stimulation
- PSN (facial nerve) stimulation
- Central cortical neurones
- Dopaminergic neurones
SN nerve stimulation (neural factor)?
To main cerebral arteries
VasoCONSTRICTION when MABP is high
PSN facial nerve stimulation (neural factor)?
Produces sligh vasoDILATION
Central cortical neurones (neural factor)?
Releases various vasoCONSTRICTOR NTs
e.g. catecholamines (A & NA)
Dopaminergic neurones (neural factor)?
LOCALISED vasoCONSTRICTION
Explain what dopaminergic neurones innervate
Innervate
x penetrating arterioles
x pericytes around capillaries
Explain how dopaminergic neurones function
May participate in the diversion of CBS to areas of high activity
Dopamine may cause contraction of pericytes via. aminergic & serotoninergic receptors
Pericytes?
Brain macrophages that wrap around capillaries - maintaining integrity & function
Diverse activity inc. immune function, transport property, contractile
Chemical factors affecting CBF?
Generally localised
CO2 (indirect) pH NO K+ Adenosine, anoxia, prostaglandins
Effect of pCO2 on CBF?
An increase in pCO2 = BF increases