Cerebral Vascular Tone Regulation: Integration and Impact of Disease

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the current knowledge regarding the regulation of the tone of cerebral resistance arteries under conditions of normal health and with the development of chronic diseases (e.g., metabolic disease). The work integrates the myogenic (pressure-induced) regulation of vascular tone, the impact of elevated luminal flow or shear stresses, that of local tissue metabolic activity on vascular tone and the concept of neurovascular coupling (linking neuronal activity to the impacts on vascular diameter). In addition, this work summarizes some of the recent work on how diseases such as type 2 diabetes impact the mechanisms of cerebrovascular tone regulation. It is anticipated that the current review will provide the reader with an up-to-date understanding of how the cerebral resistance vessels respond to changes in their local environment and contribute to the regulation of blood flow within the brain.

The Potential Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Regulation of Cerebrovascular Tone

“…The circulation of the central nervous system is regulated in a complex manner and it is mainly controlled by local factors while the neural control, that is so critical in the systemic circulation, is relatively weak and even controversial in the cerebral circulation [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The local factors involve several mechanisms such as myogenic, flow or shear mediated and metabolic responses which were concisely reviewed recently [ 10 ] and only a brief summary is provided here. It is important to emphasize that the autoregulation of blood flow in the intracranial space is of great importance, and this is thought to be the result of a multi-factorial complex mechanism which involves myogenic response, shear stress, hyper- and hypocapnia and hypoxia as well [ 9 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Oxidative Stress and Cerebral Vascular Tone: The Role of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species

“…The regulation of vascular tone in cerebral vessels is a complex process that involves multiple factors and mechanisms [ 167 ], which include pressure-induced regulation, shear stress, local metabolism, and the control of vascular diameter by neuronal activity. As previously described, the presence of ROS, RNS, and antioxidants can result in vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive effects in cerebral blood vessels, with a complex interplay activity [ 168 ].…”

Pathophysiology of transient neurological deficit in patients with chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review

“…It is suggested that TND could represent plateau waves or acute loss of local cerebral autoregulatory vascular tone 28 . Autoregulatory vascular tone is the autonomous ability of the brain to maintain and/or adjust perfusion pressure 37 . As a result of loss of autoregulatory tone, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreases, with subsequent lower CBF causing (relative) ischemia.…”

“…28 Autoregulatory vascular tone is the autonomous ability of the brain to maintain and/or adjust perfusion pressure. 37 As a result of loss of autoregulatory tone, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreases, with subsequent lower CBF causing (relative) ischemia. The transient symptoms in this case could be related to changes in position (recumbent to supine), performance of the Valsalva maneuver or use of antihypertensive medication.…”