Cerebral blood vessel reactivity is one of the main determinants of final outcome of brain ischemia. Most of studies on the vascular mechanisms of ischemic brain injury, however, focus on the acute changes within ischemic period or several hours after it. Dilatatory capacity of cerebral arterioles (perfusion reservoir) is considered as an important factor of brain perfusion elevation in critical situations.The aim of the present study was to examine the pial vessel reactivity in response to hypercapnia in rats, subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia, at 7, 14 and 21 days after ischemia. Materials and methods. Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced in anesthetized Wistar rats by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 12 min with simultaneous controlled hypotension to 45±3 mm Hg, followed by blood reinfusion and recovery from anesthesia. Three different groups of rats were re-anesthetized at 7, 14 or 21 days after ischemia and subjected to microvascular reactivity studies using in vivo video microscopy. Hypercapnia was caused by i.v. injection of acetazolamide. The changes in diameter of pial arteries and veins in response to hypercapnia were measured. Results and discussion. Global cerebral ischemia led to marked decrease in pial vessels (both arteries and veins) reactivity in response to hypercapnia, caused by i.v. injection of acetazolamide. In intact rats, i.v. injection of acetazolamide led to pial arteries dilation and pial veins constriction; in animals subjected to ischemia-reperfuion. the numbers of dilated large arteries and constricted small veins were much less, as well as the extent of arterial dilation. Reactivity changes were observed in all time points studied. Conclusions. Thus, transient global cerebral ischemia cause marked and long lasting (3 weeks) decrease in pial vessel reactivity in response to hypercapnia.

Experiments on Wistar rats showed that blood flow in the cortex and subcortical brain structures was not completely restored within 21 days after transient ischemia caused by bilateral carotid artery occlusion with controlled hypotension. After 7 days of reinfusion, the end-diastolic blood flow velocity increases with simultaneous decrease in pulsation index, which indicates the decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. During the following 14 days, peripheral blood resistance increases, as was seen from the increased peak systolic blood flow velocity, mean blood flow velocity over the heart cycle, and pulsation index. These changes are likely a delayed manifestation of ischemic reperfusion injury to brain microvessels (no-reflow phenomenon) and are determined by changes in blood rheologiy and pial vessel lumen.

Introduction and purpose. It is known that ischemia influences on endothelial reactions, changes metabolic and myogenic mechanisms of cerebral blood flow regulation. But the role of local neurogenic mechanisms of regulation in change of cerebral vessels reactions after ischemia is finally not found out. The aim of the current study was to examine the pial vessels reactivity in response to a brain surface irrigation by norepinephrine solution in rats, subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia, at 2, 7, 14 and 21 days after ischemia. Materials and methods. Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced in anesthetized Wistar rats by clamping of both common carotid arteries for 12 min with simultaneous controlled hypotension to 45±3 mm Hg, followed by blood reinfusion and recovering from anesthesia. Four different groups of rats were re-anesthetized at 2, 7, 14 or 21 days after ischemia and subjected to microvascular studies using in-vivo video microscopy method. The diameter changes of pial arteries and veins in response to norepinephrine were measured. Results and discussion. It was established that cerebral ischemia led to increase number of the constrictions to norepinephrine mainly at the vessels to relating to group of small pial arteries and arterioles and pial veins of the 3-rd generation. Reactivity changes were observed in all time points studied. This changes probably is connected with caused by ischemia the increase in reactivity and sensitivity of pial vessels adrenoceptors. The greatest changes are noted in 14 days after ischemia. The use of non-selective α-adrenergic antagonist - nicergoline at ischemic and intact rats, led to increase number of the constrictions to norepinephrine. But at ischemic rats decrease was more considerable. And number of dilation reactions to norepinephrine at ischemic rats was also above. It can indicate to increase of adrenoceptors reactivity and sensitivity. Conclusions. Thus, transient global cerebral ischemia cause marked and long lasting (3 weeks) increase in pial vessels reactivity in response to norepinephrine, that is probably connected with increase of adrenoceptors reactivity and sensitivity.

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