Astrocytes Function in Matching Blood Flow to Metabolic Activity

David R. Harder 1 ,2 , Chenyang Zhang 1 and Debebe Gebremedhin 1 1 Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, and 2 Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 The brain possesses an intrinsic regulatory mechanism to maintain a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:News in physiological sciences 2002-02, Vol.17 (1), p.27-31
Main Authors: Harder, David R, Zhang, Chenyang, Gebremedhin, Debebe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Astrocytes - physiology
Brain - metabolism
Capillaries - physiopathology
Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology
Humans
Hyperemia - physiopathology
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Summary:David R. Harder 1 ,2 , Chenyang Zhang 1 and Debebe Gebremedhin 1 1 Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, and 2 Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 The brain possesses an intrinsic regulatory mechanism to maintain an adequate supply of O 2 and nutrition despite local increases in neuronal activity. Brain astrocytes function as an intermediary cell type by responding to glutamate released from activated neurons, and they couple cerebral blood flow by producing cytochrome P-450-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids that induce vasodilation and increase capillary density.
ISSN:1548-9213
0886-1714
1548-9221
DOI:10.1152/physiologyonline.2002.17.1.27