Autonomic neural control of dynamic cerebral autoregulation in humans

Cerebellar autoregulation dynamics in humans

Knowledge on autoregulation of cerebellar blood flow in humans is scarce. This study investigated whether cerebellar autoregulation dynamics and CO(2) reactivity differ from those of the supratentorial circulation. In 56 healthy young adults, transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and, simultaneously, of the contralateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) was performed. Autoregulation dynamics were assessed by the correlation coefficient method (indices Dx and Mx) from spontaneous blood pressure fluctuations and by transfer function analysis (phase and gain) from respiratory-induced 0.1 Hz blood pressure oscillations. CO(2) reactivity was measured via inhalation of air mixed with 7% CO(2). The autoregulatory indices Dx and Mx did not differ between the cerebellar (PICA) and cerebral (MCA) vasculature. Phase and gain, which describe faster aspects of autoregulation, showed slightly better values in the PICA compared with the MCA (higher phase, P=0.005; lower gain, P=0.007). Correlation between absolute autoregulation values in the PICA and the MCA was significant (P<0.001). The TCD CO(2) reactivity was significantly lower in the PICA (P<0.001), which could be influenced by an assumed PICA dilation under hypercapnia. In conclusion, dynamic autoregulation in the human cerebellum is well operating and has slightly faster regulatory properties than the anterior cerebral circulation.

Cerebral autoregulation: an overview of current concepts and methodology with special focus on the elderly

Cerebral autoregulation (CA) refers to the properties of the brain vascular bed to maintain cerebral perfusion despite changes in blood pressure (BP). Whereas classic studies have assessed CA during changes in BP that have a gradual onset, dynamic studies quantify the fast modifications in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in relation to rapid alterations in BP. There is a lack of standardization in the assessment of dynamic CA. This review provides an overview of the methods that have been applied, with special focus on the elderly. We will discuss the relative merits and shortcomings of these methods with regard to the aged population. Furthermore, we summarize the effects of variability in BP on CBF in older people. Of the various dynamic assessments of CA, a single sit-to-stand procedure is a feasible and physiologic method in the elderly. The collection of spontaneous beat-to-beat changes in BP and CBF allows estimation of CA using the technique of transfer function analysis. A thorough search of the literature yielded eight studies that have measured dynamic CA in the elderly aged <75 years. Regardless of the methods used, it was concluded from these studies that CA was preserved in this population.

The effects of ageing and passive heating on cardiorespiratory and cerebrovascular responses to orthostatic stress in humans

We tested the hypothesis that older adults, relative to younger adults, would be more prone to critical reductions in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation upon standing during passive heat stress. Six older (70+/-4 years, mean+/-s.d.) and six younger males (29+/-4 years) were heated (oesophageal temperature raised 0.5 degrees C) in a water-perfused suit. Blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCAv), cerebral oxygenation, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PET,CO2) were measured continuously before and during 3 min standing in each thermal state. At supine normothermic baseline, MCAv was 47% lower in older participants (P<0.001), whilst MAP and cerebral oxygenation were similar between groups (P>0.05). Heating lowered the supine MAP more in younger adults, and elevated heart rate only in this group. Upon initial standing in normothermia, older participants had a greater drop in MCAv (P<0.05 versus young), a lesser drop in MAP (approximately 24 and approximately 42% in older and younger participants, respectively), but slower recovery of MAP (27.3+/-6.8 versus 18.6+/-4.7 s, mean+/-s.d., P=0.004); heating did not exacerbate any postural responses in either age group. During the last minute of standing, MCAv and PET,CO2 were lower in older participants, though age differences were not evident in cerebral oxygenation (normothermic or heated). Thus, independent of heat stress, in addition to lower resting MCAv, there are further age-related reductions in MCAv and slower corrections of MAP following standing. However, these asymptomatic changes seem to represent a physiologically acceptable insult which can be well tolerated in otherwise healthy older participants even during heat stress.

Acute cortical blindness due to posterior reversible encephalopathy

An acutely hypertensive 55 year-old male experienced seizures and cortical blindness post-operatively. CT scans demonstrated hypointensities in the occipital lobes bilaterally. MRI revealed symmetrical bilateral hyperintense signals in the same region, involving both grey and white matter. Thromboembolic screening investigations including vertebral artery doppler studies were normal and echocardiography demonstrated borderline left ventricular hypertrophy. A diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was reached and there was complete resolution of blindness with antihypertensive therapy. This case supports the vasogenic theory of PRES which suggests that sustained high grade fluctuations in blood pressure lead to a reduction in cerebral vascular autoregulatory function. The resultant failure of compensatory vasoconstriction to prevent hyperperfusion causes fluid to extravasate into the occipital lobes, which in the present case resulted in cortical blindness.

Regulation of middle cerebral artery blood velocity during dynamic exercise in humans: influence of aging

Although cerebral autoregulation (CA) appears well maintained during mild to moderate intensity dynamic exercise in young subjects, it is presently unclear how aging influences the regulation of cerebral blood flow during physical activity. Therefore, to address this question, middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAV), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (Pa(CO(2))) were assessed at rest and during steady-state cycling at 30% and 50% heart rate reserve (HRR) in 9 young (24 +/- 3 yr; mean +/- SD) and 10 older middle-aged (57 +/- 7 yr) subjects. Transfer function analysis between changes in MAP and mean MCAV (MCAV(mean)) in the low-frequency (LF) range were used to assess dynamic CA. No age-group differences were found in Pa(CO(2)) at rest or during cycling. Exercise-induced increases in MAP were greater in older subjects, while changes in MCAV(mean) were similar between groups. The cerebral vascular conductance index (MCAV(mean)/MAP) was not different at rest (young 0.66 +/- 0.04 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1) vs. older 0.67 +/- 0.03 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1); mean +/- SE) or during 30% HRR cycling between groups but was reduced in older subjects during 50% HRR cycling (young 0.67 +/- 0.03 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1) vs. older 0.56 +/- 0.02 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1); P < 0.05). LF transfer function gain and phase between MAP and MCAV(mean) was not different between groups at rest (LF gain: young 0.95 +/- 0.05 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1) vs. older 0.88 +/- 0.06 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1); P > 0.05) or during exercise (LF gain: young 0.80 +/- 0.05 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1) vs. older 0.72 +/- 0.07 cm x s(-1) x mmHg(-1) at 50% HRR; P > 0.05). We conclude that despite greater increases in MAP, the regulation of MCAV(mean) is well maintained during dynamic exercise in healthy older middle-aged subjects.

A simple deep breathing test reveals altered cerebral autoregulation in type 2 diabetic patients

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of stroke and other cerebrovascular complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow in diabetic patients using a simple method that could easily be applied to the clinical routine screening of diabetic patients.

METHODS

We studied ten patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 11 healthy volunteer control participants. Continuous and non-invasive measurements of blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity were performed during deep breathing at 0.1 Hz (six breaths per minute). Cerebral autoregulation was assessed from the phase shift angle between breathing-induced 0.1 Hz oscillations in mean blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity.

RESULTS

The controls and patients all showed positive phase shift angles between breathing-induced 0.1 Hz blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity oscillations. However, the phase shift angle was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the patients (48 +/- 9 degrees ) compared with the controls (80 +/- 12 degrees ). The gain between 0.1 Hz oscillations in blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity did not differ significantly between the patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The reduced phase shift angle between oscillations in mean blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity during deep breathing suggests altered cerebral autoregulation in patients with diabetes and might contribute to an increased risk of cerebrovascular disorders.

Autonomic neural control of the cerebral vasculature: acute hypotension

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The effect of antihypertensive drugs on autonomic neural control of the cerebral circulation remains unclear. This study was designed to compare middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity responses to acute hypotension with and without alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor blockade (Prazosin) in young, healthy humans.

METHODS

Acute hypotension was induced nonpharmacologically in 6 healthy subjects (mean+/-SE; 28+/-2 years) by releasing bilateral thigh cuffs after 9 minutes of suprasystolic resting ischemia before and after an oral dose of Prazosin (1 mg/20 kg body weight).

RESULTS

Prazosin had no effect on thigh cuff release-induced reductions in mean arterial pressure and middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity. However, Prazosin attenuated the amount of peripheral vasoconstriction through the arterial baroreflex as evidenced by a slower return of mean arterial pressure to baseline (P=0.03). Immediately after cuff release, cerebral vascular conductance index increased through cerebral autoregulation and returned to resting values as a result of an increased perfusion pressure mediated through arterial baroreflex mechanisms. The rate of regulation, an index of cerebral autoregulation, was attenuated with Prazosin (control versus Prazosin; rate of regulation=0.204+/-0.020 versus 0.006+/-0.053/s, P=0.037). In addition, as mean arterial pressure was returning to resting values, the rate of change in cerebral vascular conductance index was decreased with Prazosin (0.005+/-0.006/s) compared with control (0.025+/-0.005/s; P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that during recovery from acute hypotension, decreases in cerebral vascular conductance index were mediated by increases in arterial blood pressure and sympathetically mediated cerebral vasoconstriction.

Impairment of cerebral hemodynamic response to the cold pressor test in patients with Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Disturbance of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is frequently encountered in Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we examined changes in systemic and cerebral hemodynamics during the cold pressor test (CPT) to determine whether cerebrovascular reactivity, controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, is intact or impaired in patients with PD.

METHODS

Forty-nine patients with PD and 49 sex- and age-matched non-PD subjects were evaluated. Measurements were performed in the resting state and over a period of 1min of CPT. The cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were recorded by transcranial color-coded Doppler ultrasonography (TCCS). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and end-tidal CO(2) (Et-CO(2)) were investigated simultaneously. The resistance of the cerebrovascular bed (CVR) was calculated as the ratio of mean arterial blood pressure to mean cerebral blood flow velocity (Vm). Changes of Vm, PI and CVR in response to the cold pressor test were evaluated.

RESULTS

Baseline values for control and PD subjects showed no statistical difference. CPT induced a significant increase in MAP, HR, and Vm in both groups. Pulsatility index (PI) and CVR were decreased in both groups during CPT. Percent increases of Vm (P<0.001) and MAP (P=0.011) were significantly higher while the percent decreases of PI (P=0.002) and CVR (P=0.007) were significantly decreased more in the non-PD group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indirectly shows that ANS-mediated cerebrovascular reactivity is impaired in patients with PD. Further investigations are needed to confirm the hypothesis that using the cold pressor test to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity might be beneficial in early diagnosis of impairment of ANS-mediated cerebrovascular autoregulation in patients with PD.

Efficacy of using mean arterial blood pressure sequence for three-element Windkessel model estimation

The three-element Windkessel model is widely used and accepted for analyzing blood flow and pressure in arterial system and cerebral circulation. In most studies, changes in mean arterial blood pressure data is used as input to estimate the model parameters. However, estimation of linear model parameters, using input-output data, requires that the input be persistently exciting. This study examined the efficacy of using mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) sequence as an input stimulus for estimating the parameters of the three-element Windkessel model. Additionally, the study explored the use of a shorter MABP data segment of 1.5 mm as compared to the commonly used 6 mm data. MABP data was obtained from 11 healthy subjects. One thousand three-element Windkessel models, with parameter values randomly selected to be within physiological range, were subjected to seven different input sequences. For each input sequence and model, the values of the model (target-parameters) were estimated. The seven input sequence were: 1) six minutes of MABP measured from subjects; 2-5) four 1.5 mm of measured MABP obtained by dividing the measured six minutes of MABP into non- overlapping contiguous segments; 6) a six-minutes of pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) with amplitudes comparable to the MABP sequence; and 7) a 1.5 mm of PRBS sequence with amplitudes comparable to the MABP sequence. The MABP data used was randomly selected from the 11 subjects for each estimation run. The model parameter estimation method had two phases of optimization. In the first phase, the parameters were estimated and optimized using the frequency transform of the input and output. In the second phase, the values of the estimated parameters were used as initial estimates and time-domain optimization was carried out to further refine the estimates. Results from the study, comparing the estimated-parameters with the target-parameters, show that for the MABP data, there was no significant difference between using the six minutes or 1.5 mm of data for estimating the target-parameters. Also, parameters estimated from the MABP data were either equivalent or superior to the PRBS results, suggesting that changes in MABP can be used as an effective sequence for linear model estimation.

Norepinephrine transporter inhibition alters the hemodynamic response to hypergravitation

Sympathetically mediated tachycardia and vasoconstriction maintain blood pressure during hypergravitational stress, thereby preventing gravitation-induced loss of consciousness. Norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibition prevents neurally mediated (pre)syncope during gravitational stress imposed by head-up tilt testing. Thus it seems reasonable that NET inhibition could increase tolerance to hypergravitational stress. We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study in 11 healthy men (26 ± 1 yr, body mass index 24 ± 1 kg/m2), who ingested the selective NET inhibitor reboxetine (4 mg) or matching placebo 25, 13, and 1 h before testing on separate days. We monitored heart rate, blood pressure, and thoracic impedance in three different body positions (supine, seated, standing) and during a graded centrifuge run (incremental steps of 0.5 g for 3 min each, up to a maximal vertical acceleration load of 3 g). NET inhibition increased supine blood pressure and heart rate. With placebo, blood pressure increased in the seated position and was well maintained during standing. However, with NET inhibition, blood pressure decreased in the seated and standing position. During hypergravitation, blood pressure increased in a graded fashion with placebo. With NET inhibition, the increase in blood pressure during hypergravitation was profoundly diminished. Conversely, the tachycardic responses to sitting, standing, and hypergravitation all were greatly increased with NET inhibition. In contrast to our expectation, short-term NET inhibition did not improve tolerance to hypergravitation. Redistribution of sympathetic activity to the heart or changes in baroreflex responses could explain the excessive tachycardia that we observed.

Impaired autoregulation in preterm infants identified by using spatially resolved spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE

The absence of cerebral autoregulation in preterm infants has been associated with adverse outcome, but its bedside assessment in the immature brain is problematic. We used spatially resolved spectroscopy to continuously measure cerebral oxygen saturation (expressed as a tissue-oxygenation index) and used the correlation of tissue-oxygenation index with spontaneous fluctuations in mean arterial blood pressure to assess cerebral autoregulation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The tissue-oxygenation index and mean arterial blood pressure were continuously measured in very premature infants (n = 24) of mean (+/-SD) gestational age of 26 (+/-2.3) weeks at a mean postnatal age of 28 (+/-22) hours. The correlation between mean arterial blood pressure and tissue-oxygenation index in the frequency domain was assessed by using cross-spectral analysis techniques (coherence and transfer-function gain). Values of coherence reflect the strength of linear correlation, whereas transfer-function gain reflects the amplitude of tissue-oxygenation index changes relative to mean arterial blood pressure changes.

RESULTS

High coherence (coherence > or = 0.5) values were found in 9 infants who were of lower gestational age, lower birth weight, and lower mean arterial blood pressure than infants with coherence of < 0.5; high-coherence infants also had higher median Clinical Risk Index for Babies scores and a higher rate of neonatal deaths. Coherence of > or = 0.5 predicted mortality with a positive predictive value of 67% and negative predictive value of 100%. In multifactorial analysis, coherence alone was the best predictor of mortality and Clinical Risk Index for Babies score alone was the best predictor of coherence.

CONCLUSIONS

High coherence between mean arterial blood pressure and tissue-oxygenation index indicates impaired cerebral autoregulation in clinically sick preterm infants and is strongly associated with subsequent mortality. Cross-spectral analysis of mean arterial blood pressure and tissue-oxygenation index has the potential to provide continuous bedside assessment of cerebral autoregulation and to guide therapeutic interventions.

Cerebrovascular reactivity and autonomic drive following traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION

The autonomic nervous system exerts tonic control on cerebral vessels, which in turn determine the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. We hypothesize that the impairment of cerebral autoregulation following traumatic brain injury might be related to the acute failure of the autonomic system.

METHODS

This prospective, observational study included patients with severe traumatic brain injury requiring mechanical ventilation and invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) and arterial blood pressure (ABP). Pressure reactivity index (PRx), a validated index of cerebrovascular reactivity, was continuously monitored using bedside computers. Autonomic drive was assessed by means of heart rate variability (HRV) using frequency domain analysis.

FINDINGS

Eighteen TBI patients were included in the study. Cerebrovascular reactivity impairment (PRx above 0.2) and autonomic failure (low spectral power of HRV) are significantly and independently associated with fatal outcome (P = 0.032 and P < 0.001, respectively). We observed a significant correlation between PRx and HRV spectral power (P < 0.001). The high frequency component of HRV (HF, 0.15-0.4Hz) can be used to predict impaired autoregulation (PRx > 0.2), although sensitivity and specificity are low (ROC AUC = 0.67; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Following traumatic brain injury, autonomic failure and cerebrovascular autoregulation impairment are both associated with fatal outcome. Impairment of cerebrovascular autoregulation and autonomic drive are interdependent phenomena. With some refinements, HRV might become a tool for screening patients at risk for cerebral autoregulation derangement following TBI.

Generation of very low frequency cerebral blood flow fluctuations in humans

BACKGROUND

Slow oscillations of cerebral blood flow induced by synchronous variations of arterial blood pressure (ABP) are often used for clinical assessment of cerebral autoregulation. In the alternative scenario, spontaneous cerebral vasocycling may produce waves in cerebral blood flow that are, to a large extent, independent of ABP fluctuations. We use wavelet analysis to test the latter hypothesis.

METHODS

The wavelet variability V(f), defined as the time averaged moduli of frequency dependent wavelet coefficients, is employed to analyze the relation between dynamics of arterial blood pressure and that of cerebral blood flow velocity in middle cerebral artery (MCA).

FINDINGS

In the very low frequency (VLF, 0.02-0.07 Hz) band the variability in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with low intracranial pressure (V(ABP) = 0.36 +/- 0.28) is significantly smaller than that of the volunteers (V(ABP) = 0.70 +/- 0.25) with p = 7 x 10(-5). Interestingly, the corresponding variabilities of MCA flow velocity for both cohorts are comparable. V(MCA) = 0.83 +/- 0.65 of the brain injury patients is not statistically different from that of the volunteers V(MCA) = 1.06 +/- 0.41 (p = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

In TBI patients without cerebral hypertension, the VLF oscillations must have been spontaneously generated within intracranial volume to compensate for the reduced ABP variability. Vasomotion is identified as a plausible physiological mechanism underlying such oscillations. We argue that vasomotion may be beneficial for brain tissue oxygenation especially during periods of critically low perfusion.

Multivariate system identification for cerebral autoregulation

The effect of spontaneous beat-to-beat mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) fluctuations and breath-to-breath end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) and end-tidal oxygen (PETO2) fluctuations on beat-to-beat cerebral bloodflow velocity (CBFV) variations is studied using a multiple coherence function. Multiple coherence is a measure of the extent to which the output, CBFV, can be represented as a linear time invariant system of multiple input signals. Analysis of experimental measurements from 13 different healthy subjects reveal that, with additional inputs, PETCO2 and PETO2, the multiple coherence for frequencies <0.05 Hz is significantly higher than the corresponding values obtained for univariate coherence with a single input of ABP. The result illustrates that the low value of univariate coherence at small frequencies may be due to the effects of PETCO2 and PETO2 fluctuations on CBFV variability. Moreover, it is also found that the transfer function between ABP and CBFVtime series identified from previous univariate techniques at low frequencies can be modified by CO2 and O2 reactivity and no longer represents pressure autoregulation only. Multivariate system identification provides a technique of incorporating additional variability and recovering from this artifact. Finally, a physiologically based model and its linear transfer function are used as a simulation tool to investigate possible causes of low univariate coherence.

Central hypervolemia with hemodilution impairs dynamic cerebral autoregulation

BACKGROUND

Frequent changes in the perioperative central blood volume could affect cerebral autoregulation through alterations in sympathetic nerve activity, cardiac output, blood viscosity, and cerebral vasomotor tone. However, the effect of dynamic cerebral autoregulation has not been studied during acute wide-ranging changes in central blood volume, especially with respect to central hypervolemia with hemodilution.

METHODS

We evaluated dynamic cerebral autoregulation during central hypovolemia and central hypervolemia with hemodilution using spectral and transfer function analysis between mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity variability in 12 individuals. Rapid changes in central blood volume were achieved using two levels of lower body negative pressure (-15 and -30 mm Hg) and two discrete infusions of normal saline (15 mL/kg and total 30 mL/kg). We then estimated changes in central blood volume as central venous pressure (CVP) and/or cardiac output using impedance cardiography.

RESULTS

Steady-state CBF velocity and cardiac output decreased at -30 mm Hg lower body negative pressure (changes of CVP approximately -4 mm Hg) or were increased by each saline infusion (changes of CVP 4-6 mm Hg), without a significant change in MBP. However, transfer function gain (magnitude of transfer) between MBP and CBF velocity variability significantly increased only after saline infusion, suggesting an increased magnitude of transfer from MBP oscillations to CBF fluctuations during central hypervolemia with hemodilution.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that, although steady-state CBF velocity changes under both central hypervolemia and hypovolemia, only hypervolemic hemodilution impairs dynamic cerebral autoregulation.

Differential effects of acute hypoxia and high altitude on cerebral blood flow velocity and dynamic cerebral autoregulation: alterations with hyperoxia

We hypothesized that 1) acute severe hypoxia, but not hyperoxia, at sea level would impair dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA); 2) impairment in CA at high altitude (HA) would be partly restored with hyperoxia; and 3) hyperoxia at HA and would have more influence on blood pressure (BP) and less influence on middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv). In healthy volunteers, BP and MCAv were measured continuously during normoxia and in acute hypoxia (inspired O2 fraction = 0.12 and 0.10, respectively; n = 10) or hyperoxia (inspired O2 fraction, 1.0; n = 12). Dynamic CA was assessed using transfer-function gain, phase, and coherence between mean BP and MCAv. Arterial blood gases were also obtained. In matched volunteers, the same variables were measured during air breathing and hyperoxia at low altitude (LA; 1,400 m) and after 1-2 days after arrival at HA ( approximately 5,400 m, n = 10). In acute hypoxia and hyperoxia, BP was unchanged whereas it was decreased during hyperoxia at HA (-11 +/- 4%; P < 0.05 vs. LA). MCAv was unchanged during acute hypoxia and at HA; however, acute hyperoxia caused MCAv to fall to a greater extent than at HA (-12 +/- 3 vs. -5 +/- 4%, respectively; P < 0.05). Whereas CA was unchanged in hyperoxia, gain in the low-frequency range was reduced during acute hypoxia, indicating improvement in CA. In contrast, HA was associated with elevations in transfer-function gain in the very low- and low-frequency range, indicating CA impairment; hyperoxia lowered these elevations by approximately 50% (P < 0.05). Findings indicate that hyperoxia at HA can partially improve CA and lower BP, with little effect on MCAv.

Persistence of baroreceptor control of cerebral blood flow velocity at a simulated altitude of 5000 m

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of acute exposure to simulated high altitude on baroreflex control of mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCFV).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We compared beat-to-beat changes in RR interval, arterial blood pressure, mean MCFV (by transcranial Doppler velocimetry in the middle cerebral artery), end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation and respiration in 19 healthy subjects at baseline (Albuquerque, 1779 m), after acute exposure to simulated high altitude in a hypobaric chamber (barometric pressure as at 5000 m) and during oxygen administration (to achieve 100% oxygen saturation) at the same barometric pressure (HOX). Baroreflex control on each signal was assessed by univariate and bivariate power spectral analysis performed on time series obtained during controlled (15 breaths/min) breathing, before and during baroreflex modulation induced by 0.1-Hz sinusoidal neck suction.

RESULTS

At baseline, neck suction was able to induce a clear increase in low-frequency power in MCFV (P<0.001) as well as in RR and blood pressure. At high altitude, MCFV, as well as RR and blood pressure, was still able to respond to neck suction (all P<0.001), compared to controlled breathing alone, despite marked decreases in end-tidal CO2 and oxygen saturation at high altitude. A similar response was obtained at HOX. Phase delay analysis excluded a passive transmission of low-frequency oscillations from arterial pressure to cerebral circulation.

CONCLUSIONS

During acute exposure to high altitude, cerebral blood flow is still modulated by the autonomic nervous system through the baroreflex, whose sensitivity is not affected by changes in CO2 and oxygen saturation levels.

Cerebral Autoregulation and Syncope

Whatever the pathogenesis of syncope is, the ultimate common cause leading to loss of consciousness is insufficient cerebral perfusion with a critical reduction of blood flow to the reticular activating system. Brain circulation has an autoregulation system that keeps cerebral blood flow constant over a wide range of systemic blood pressures. Normally, if blood pressure decreases, autoregulation reacts with a reduction in cerebral vascular resistance, in an attempt to prevent cerebral hypoperfusion. However, in some cases, particularly in neurally mediated syncope, it can also be harmful, being actively implicated in a paradox reflex that induces an increase in cerebrovascular resistance and contributes to the critical reduction of cerebral blood flow. This review outlines the anatomic structures involved in cerebral autoregulation, its mechanisms, in normal and pathologic conditions, and the noninvasive neuroimaging techniques used in the study of cerebral circulation and autoregulation. An emphasis is placed on the description of autoregulation pathophysiology in orthostatic and neurally mediated syncope.

Acute exposure to normobaric mild hypoxia alters dynamic relationships between blood pressure and cerebral blood flow at very low frequency

Acute hypoxia directly causes cerebral arteriole vasodilation and also stimulates peripheral chemoreceptors to change autonomic neural activity. These changes may alter cerebral vascular modulation. We therefore hypothesized that dynamic cerebral autoregulation would be altered during acute exposure to hypoxia. Fifteen healthy men were examined under normoxic (21%) and hypoxic conditions. Oxygen concentrations were decreased in stepwise fashion to 19%, 17%, and 15%, for 10 mins at each level. Mean blood pressure (MBP) in the radial artery was measured via tonometry, and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in the middle cerebral artery was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was assessed by spectral and transfer function analysis of beat-by-beat changes in MBP and CBFV. Arterial oxygen saturation decreased significantly during hypoxia, while end-tidal CO2 and respiratory rate were unchanged, as was steady-state CBFV. With 15% O2, very-low-frequency power of MBP and CBFV variability increased significantly by 185% and 282%, respectively. Moreover, transfer function coherence (21% O2, 0.46+/-0.04; 15% O2, 0.64+/-0.04; P=0.028) and gain (21% O2, 0.61+/-0.05 cm/secs/mm Hg; 15% O2, 0.86+/-0.08 cm/secs/mm Hg; P=0.035) in the very-low-frequency range increased significantly by 53% and 48% with 15% O2, respectively. However, these indices were unchanged in low- and high-frequency ranges. Acute hypoxia thus increases arterial pressure oscillations and dependence of cerebral blood flow (CBF) fluctuations on blood pressure oscillations, resulting in apparent increases in CBF fluctuations in the very-low-frequency range. Hypoxia may thus impair dynamic cerebral autoregulation in this range. However, these changes were significant only with hypoxia at 15% O2, suggesting a possible threshold for such changes.

Autonomic ganglionic blockade does not prevent reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity during orthostasis in humans

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The underlying mechanisms for reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) during orthostasis are not completely understood. This study tested the hypothesis that sympathetic activation causes cerebral vasoconstriction leading to reductions in CBF during lower body negative pressure (LBNP).

METHODS

CBF velocity, arterial pressure, and end-tidal CO(2) were measured during LBNP (-30 to -50 mm Hg) in 11 healthy subjects before and after autonomic ganglionic blockade with trimethaphan. Arterial partial pressure of CO(2) also was measured in a subgroup of 5 subjects. Mean arterial pressure during LBNP after blockade was maintained by infusion of phenylephrine.

RESULTS

Before blockade, mean arterial pressure did not change during LBNP. However, CBF velocity was reduced in all subjects by 14% (P<0.05). Systolic and pulsatile (systolic-diastolic) CBF velocity were reduced by 18% and 28%, respectively, associated with significant reductions in pulse arterial pressure and end-tidal CO(2) (all P<0.05). After blockade, mean arterial pressure during LBNP was well-maintained and even increased slightly with infusion of phenylephrine. However, reductions in mean, systolic, and pulsatile CBF velocity, pulse arterial pressure, and ETCO(2) were similar to those before blockade. In contrast to reductions in end-tidal CO(2), arterial partial pressure of CO(2) did not change during LBNP.

CONCLUSIONS

These data, contrary to our hypothesis, demonstrate that sympathetic vasoconstriction is not the primary mechanism underlying reductions in CBF during moderate LBNP. We speculate that diminished pulse arterial pressure or pulsatile blood flow may reduce cerebral vessel wall shear stress and contribute to reductions in CBF during orthostasis through flow mediated regulatory mechanisms.

Efficacy of using mean arterial blood pressure sequence for linear modeling of cerebral autoregulation

Linear autoregressive (ARX) models are often used to describe the dynamic cerebral autoregulation in humans by relating cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) to beat-to-beat mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). For linear model estimation it is required that the input be persistently exciting. This study aimed to establish if the MABP is adequately persistently exciting for estimating to yield a linear model. Using ARX models with MABP as input and CBFV as output, linear models for 11 healthy normal subjects in supine position were obtained. The order of the models was allowed to vary between 1 to 10. For each subject, the model with the least mean squared error (MSE) value was selected, called Ma. Ma was then treated as the unknown model of the cerebral autoregulation to be estimated. Ma was separately subjected to the measured MABP as well as a pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) to estimate two ARX models for it. The resulting estimates of Ma with the lowest MSE were selected as Me1 and Me2, respectively. With the measured MABP as input, the MSE values between the resulting output of Me1 and Me2 and the measured CBFV were calculated. These MSE values were compared to the MSE value previously obtained for Ma to determine if Me1 that was obtained using MABP can estimate CBFV with the same level of accuracy as Me2. This analysis was carried out both with the traditional 6 minutes data and was repeated by dividing the 6 minutes of data into four 1.5 minute sections, a total of 5 comparisons. The analysis showed that the computed MSE values for Ma, Me1 and Me2 were the same for each subject, irrespecteve of the duration of the data set used for the study. However, the orders of the models were not identical. For each of the three models the average MSE value for 11 subjects was 0.0200 for 6 minutes,0.0235 for first 1.5 minute and 0.0263, 0.0278 and 0.0255 for secon, third and fourth 1.5 minutes, respectively. Results suggest that 1.5 minutes of MABP sequence is adequate as input for estimating linear models of cerebral autoregulation.

Alterations in cerebral dynamics at high altitude following partial acclimatization in humans: wakefulness and sleep

We tested the hypothesis that, following exposure to high altitude, cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 and cerebral autoregulation would be attenuated. Such alterations may predispose to central sleep apnea at high altitude by promoting changes in brain Pco2 and thus breathing stability. We measured middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv; transcranial Doppler ultrasound) and arterial blood pressure during wakefulness in conditions of eucapnia (room air), hypocapnia (voluntary hyperventilation), and hypercapnia (isooxic rebeathing), and also during non-rapid eye movement (stage 2) sleep at low altitude (1,400 m) and at high altitude (3,840 m) in five individuals. At each altitude, sleep was studied using full polysomnography, and resting arterial blood gases were obtained. During wakefulness and polysomnographic-monitored sleep, dynamic cerebral autoregulation and steady-state changes in MCAv in relation to changes in blood pressure were evaluated using transfer function analysis. High altitude was associated with an increase in central sleep apnea index (0.2 ± 0.4 to 20.7 ± 23.2 per hour) and an increase in mean blood pressure and cerebrovascular resistance during wakefulness and sleep. MCAv was unchanged during wakefulness, whereas there was a greater decrease during sleep at high altitude compared with low altitude (−9.1 ± 1.7 vs. −4.8 ± 0.7 cm/s; P < 0.05). At high altitude, compared with low altitude, the cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 in the hypercapnic range was unchanged (5.5 ± 0.7 vs. 5.3 ± 0.7%/mmHg; P = 0.06), while it was lowered in the hypocapnic range (3.1 ± 0.7 vs. 1.9 ± 0.6%/mmHg; P < 0.05). Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was further reduced during sleep ( P < 0.05 vs. low altitude). Lowered cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 and reduction in both dynamic cerebral autoregulation and MCAv during sleep at high altitude may be factors in the pathogenesis of breathing instability.

Regulation of middle cerebral artery blood velocity during recovery from dynamic exercise in humans

We sought to examine the regulation of cerebral blood flow during 10 min of recovery from mild, moderate, and heavy cycling exercise by measuring middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA V). Transfer function analyses between changes in arterial blood pressure and MCA V were used to assess the frequency components of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA). After mild and moderate exercise, the decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and mean MCA V (MCA Vm) were small. However, following heavy exercise, MAP was rapidly and markedly reduced, whereas MCA Vm decreased slowly (−23 ± 4 mmHg and −4 ± 1 cm/s after 1 min for MAP and MCA Vm, respectively; means ± SE). Importantly, for each workload, the normalized low-frequency transfer function gain between MAP and MCA Vm remained unchanged from rest to exercise and during recovery, indicating a maintained dynamic CA. Similar results were found for the systolic blood pressure and systolic MCA V relationship. In contrast, the normalized low-frequency transfer function gain between diastolic blood pressure and diastolic MCA V (MCA Vd) increased from rest to exercise and remained elevated in the recovery period ( P < 0.05). However, MCA Vd was quite stable on the cessation of exercise. These findings suggest that MCA V is well maintained following mild to heavy dynamic exercise. However, the increased transfer function gain between diastolic blood pressure and MCA Vd suggests that dynamic CA becomes less effective in response to rapid decreases in blood pressure during the initial 10 min of recovery from dynamic exercise.

Human cerebral autoregulation before, during and after spaceflight

Exposure to microgravity alters the distribution of body fluids and the degree of distension of cranial blood vessels, and these changes in turn may provoke structural remodelling and altered cerebral autoregulation. Impaired cerebral autoregulation has been documented following weightlessness simulated by head-down bed rest in humans, and is proposed as a mechanism responsible for postspaceflight orthostatic intolerance. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that spaceflight impairs cerebral autoregulation. We studied six astronauts approximately 72 and 23 days before, after 1 and 2 weeks in space (n = 4), on landing day, and 1 day after the 16 day Neurolab space shuttle mission. Beat-by-beat changes of photoplethysmographic mean arterial pressure and transcranial Doppler middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity were measured during 5 min of spontaneous breathing, 30 mmHg lower body suction to simulate standing in space, and 10 min of 60 deg passive upright tilt on Earth. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was quantified by analysis of the transfer function between spontaneous changes of mean arterial pressure and cerebral artery blood flow velocity, in the very low- (0.02-0.07 Hz), low- (0.07-0.20 Hz) and high-frequency (0.20-0.35 Hz) ranges. Resting middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity did not change significantly from preflight values during or after spaceflight. Reductions of cerebral blood flow velocity during lower body suction were significant before spaceflight (P < 0.05, repeated measures ANOVA), but not during or after spaceflight. Absolute and percentage reductions of mean (+/- s.e.m.) cerebral blood flow velocity after 10 min upright tilt were smaller after than before spaceflight (absolute, -4 +/- 3 cm s(-1) after versus -14 +/- 3 cm s(-1) before, P = 0.001; and percentage, -8.0 +/- 4.8% after versus -24.8 +/- 4.4% before, P < 0.05), consistent with improved rather than impaired cerebral blood flow regulation. Low-frequency gain decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by 26, 23 and 27% after 1 and 2 weeks in space and on landing day, respectively, compared with preflight values, which is also consistent with improved autoregulation. We conclude that human cerebral autoregulation is preserved, and possibly even improved, by short-duration spaceflight.

Synchronization between arterial blood pressure and cerebral oxyhaemoglobin concentration investigated by wavelet cross-correlation

Wavelet cross-correlation (WCC) is used to analyse the relationship between low-frequency oscillations in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measured cerebral oxyhaemoglobin (O(2)Hb) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in patients suffering from autonomic failure and age-matched controls. Statistically significant differences are found in the wavelet scale of maximum cross-correlation upon posture change in patients, but not in controls. We propose that WCC analysis of the relationship between O(2)Hb and MAP provides a useful method of investigating the dynamics of cerebral autoregulation using the spontaneous low-frequency oscillations that are typically observed in both variables without having to make the assumption of stationarity of the time series. It is suggested that for a short-duration clinical test previous transfer-function-based approaches to analyse this relationship may suffer due to the inherent nonstationarity of low-frequency oscillations that are observed in the resting brain.

Hypohydration and prior heat stress exacerbates decreases in cerebral blood flow velocity during standing

Hypohydration is associated with orthostatic intolerance; however, little is known about cerebrovascular mechanisms responsible. This study examined whether hypohydration reduces cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in response to an orthostatic challenge. Eight subjects completed four orthostatic challenges (temperate conditions) twice before (Pre-EU and Pre-Hyp) and following recovery from passive heat stress ( approximately 3 h at 45 degrees C, 50% relative humidity, 1 m/s air speed) with (Post-EU) or without (Post-Hyp) fluid replacement of sweat losses (-3% body mass loss). Measurements included CBFV, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), end-tidal CO(2), and core and skin temperatures. Test sessions included being seated (20 min) followed by standing (60 s) then resitting (60 s) with metronomic breathing (15 breaths/min). CBFV and MAP responses to standing were similar during Pre-EU and Pre-Hyp. Standing Post-Hyp exacerbated the magnitude (-28.0 +/- 1.4% of baseline) and duration (9.0 +/- 1.6 s) of CBFV reductions and increased cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) compared with Post-EU (-20.0 +/- 2.1% and 6.6 +/- 0.9 s). Standing Post-EU also resulted in a reduction in CBFV, and a smaller decrease in CVR compared with Pre-EU. MAP decreases were similar for Post-EU (-18 +/- 4 mmHg) and Post-Hyp (-21 +/- 5 mmHg) from seated to standing. These data demonstrate that despite similar MAP decreases, hypohydration, and prior heat stress (despite apparent recovery) produce greater CBFV reduction when standing. These observations suggest that hypohydration and prior heat stress are associated with greater reductions in CBFV with greater CVR, which likely contribute to orthostatic intolerance.

Transcranial Doppler estimation of cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular conductance during modified rebreathing

Clinical transcranial Doppler assessment of cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR) uses linear regression of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) vs. end-tidal CO(2) (Pet(CO(2))) under steady-state conditions. However, the cerebral blood flow (CBF)-Pet(CO(2)) relationship is nonlinear, even for moderate changes in CO(2). Moreover, CBF is increased by increases in arterial blood pressure (ABP) during hypercapnia. We used a modified rebreathing protocol to estimate CVMR during transient breath-by-breath changes in CBFV and Pet(CO(2)). Ten healthy subjects (6 men) performed 15 s of hyperventilation followed by 5 min of rebreathing, with supplemental O(2) to maintain arterial oxygen saturation constant. To minimize effects of changes in ABP on CVMR estimation, cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi) was calculated. CBFV-Pet(CO(2)) and CVCi-Pet(CO(2)) relationships were quantified by both linear and nonlinear logistic regression. In three subjects, muscle sympathetic nerve activity was recorded. From hyperventilation to rebreathing, robust changes occurred in Pet(CO(2)) (20-61 Torr), CBFV (-44 to +104% of baseline), CVCi (-39 to +64%), and ABP (-19 to +23%) (all P < 0.01). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity increased by 446% during hypercapnia. The linear regression slope of CVCi vs. Pet(CO(2)) was less steep than that of CBFV (3 vs. 5%/Torr; P = 0.01). Logistic regression of CBF-Pet(CO(2)) (r(2) = 0.97) and CVCi-Pet(CO(2)) (r(2) = 0.93) was superior to linear regression (r(2) = 0.91, r(2) = 0.85; P = 0.01). CVMR was maximal (6-8%/Torr) for Pet(CO(2)) of 40-50 Torr. In conclusion, CBFV and CVCi responses to transient changes in Pet(CO(2)) can be described by a nonlinear logistic function, indicating that CVMR estimation varies within the range from hypocapnia to hypercapnia. Furthermore, quantification of the CVCi-Pet(CO(2)) relationship may minimize the effects of changes in ABP on the estimation of CVMR. The method developed provides insight into CVMR under transient breath-by-breath changes in CO(2).

Altered cerebral regulation in type 2 diabetic patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Assessment of cerebral regulation in diabetic patients is often problematic because of the presence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy. We evaluated the technique of oscillatory neck suction at 0.1 Hz to quantify cerebral regulation in diabetic patients and healthy control subjects.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In nine type 2 diabetic patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy and 11 age-matched controls, we measured blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity responses to application of 0.1 Hz neck suction. We determined spectral powers and calculated the transfer function gain and phase shift between 0.1 Hz blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity oscillations as parameters of cerebral regulation.

RESULTS

In the patients and control subjects, neck suction did not significantly influence mean values of the RR interval, blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity. The powers of 0.1 Hz blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity oscillations increased in the control subjects, but remained stable in the patients. Transfer function gain remained stable in both groups. Phase shift decreased in the patients, but remained stable in control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The absence of an increase in the power of 0.1 Hz blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity oscillations confirmed autonomic neuropathy in the diabetic patients. Gain analysis did not show altered cerebral regulation. The decrease in phase shift in the patients indicates a more passive transmission of neck suction-induced blood pressure fluctuations onto the cerebrovascular circulation, i.e. altered cerebral regulation, in the patients, and is therefore suited to identifying subtle impairment of cerebral regulation in these patients.

Frequency response characteristics of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in rats

Transfer function analysis of blood pressure and cerebral blood flow in humans demonstrated that cerebrovascular autoregulation operates most effectively for slow fluctuations in perfusion pressure, not exceeding a frequency of approximately 0.15 Hz. No information on the dynamic properties of cerebrovascular autoregulation is available in rats. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that cerebrovascular autoregulation in rats is also most effective for slow fluctuations in perfusion pressure below 0.15 Hz. Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (n = 10) were instrumented with catheters in the left common carotid artery and jugular vein and flow probes around the right internal carotid artery. During isoflurane anesthesia, fluctuations in cerebral perfusion pressure were elicited by periodically occluding the abdominal aorta at eight frequencies ranging from 0.008 Hz to 0.5 Hz. The protocol was repeated during inhibition of myogenic vascular function (nifedipine, 0.25 mg/kg body wt iv). Increases in cerebral perfusion pressure elicited initial increases in cerebrovascular conductance and decreases in resistance. At low occlusion frequencies (<0.1 Hz), these initial responses were followed by decreases in conductance and increases in resistance that were abolished by nifedipine. At occlusion frequencies of 0.1 Hz and above, the gains of the transfer functions between pressure and blood flow and between pressure and resistance were equally high in the control and nifedipine trial. At occlusion frequencies below 0.1 Hz, the gains of the transfer functions decreased twice as much under control conditions than during nifedipine application. We conclude that dynamic autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is restricted to very low frequencies (<0.1 Hz) in rats.

Human autonomic and cerebrovascular responses to inspiratory impedance

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the influence of breathing through an inspiratory Impedance Threshold Device (ITD) on autonomic neural and cerebrovascular function.

METHODS

Eight subjects breathed through a sham ITD (0 cmH2O) and an active ITD (-7 cmH2O) in the supine position. We recorded the ECG, finger photoplethysmographic arterial pressure, cerebral blood flow velocity, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). In a randomized, counterbalanced design, subjects breathed spontaneously and also breathed at a set cadence of 15 breaths/min (0.25 Hz) for 3 minutes each. Data were analyzed in both time and frequency domains.

RESULTS

Breathing through the active ITD increased mean arterial pressure by approximately 5 mm Hg, heart rate by 2 bpm, and mean cerebral blood flow velocity by 10% (p<0.05) with no effect on MSNA or estimates of vagal-cardiac control (p>0.05). The active ITD did not affect oscillations of interbeat R-R intervals, arterial pressures, or cerebral flow velocities within the low frequency (LF) domain of the power spectrum (p>0.05). Cross spectral analysis revealed no effect of the active ITD on transfer function magnitudes among arterial pressures and R-R intervals, or between arterial pressures and cerebral blood flow velocities at the LF (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that the ITD increases arterial pressure, heart rate, and cerebral blood flow velocity independent of changes in autonomic cardiovascular control or dynamic cerebral autoregulation. Use of an active ITD in situations of acute central hypovolemia, such as during hemorrhage, may slow the progression to hemodynamic instability in bleeding patients who retain the ability to ventilate spontaneously and robustly.

Cerebral hemodynamics during orthostatic stress assessed by nonlinear modeling

The effects of orthostatic stress, induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP), on cerebral hemodynamics were examined in a nonlinear context. Spontaneous fluctuations of beat-to-beat mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in the finger, mean cerebral blood flow velocity (MCBFV) in the middle cerebral artery, as well as breath-by-breath end-tidal CO2 concentration (PetCO2) were measured continuously in 10 healthy subjects under resting conditions and during graded LBNP to presyncope. A two-input nonlinear Laguerre-Volterra network model was employed to study the dynamic effects of MABP and PetCO2 changes, as well as their nonlinear interactions, on MCBFV variations in the very low (VLF; below 0.04 Hz), low (LF; 0.04–0.15 Hz), and high frequency (HF; 0.15–0.30 Hz) ranges. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was described by the model terms corresponding to MABP, whereas cerebral vasomotor reactivity was described by the model PetCO2 terms. The nonlinear model terms reduced the output prediction normalized mean square error substantially (by 15–20%) and had a prominent effect in the VLF range, both under resting conditions and during LBNP. Whereas MABP fluctuations dominated in the HF range and played a significant role in the VLF and LF ranges, changes in PetCO2 accounted for a considerable fraction of the VLF and LF MCBFV variations, especially at high LBNP levels. The magnitude of the linear and nonlinear MABP-MCBFV Volterra kernels increased substantially above −30 mmHg LBNP in the VLF range, implying impaired dynamic autoregulation. In contrast, the magnitude of the PetCO2-MCBFV kernels reduced during LBNP at all frequencies, suggesting attenuated cerebral vasomotor reactivity under dynamic conditions. We speculate that these changes may reflect a progressively reduced cerebrovascular reserve to compensate for the increasingly unstable systemic circulation during orthostatic stress that could ultimately lead to cerebral hypoperfusion and syncope.

Impaired cerebral CO2 vasoreactivity: association with endothelial dysfunction

Conflicting data exist on the role of nitric oxide (NO) in cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation. Previous studies involving human and animal subjects seem to indicate that NO involvement is limited to the CO(2)-dependent mechanism (chemoregulation) and not to the pressure-dependent autoregulation (mechanoregulation). We tested this hypothesis in patients with impaired endothelial function compared with healthy controls. Blood pressure, heart rate, end-tidal Pco(2), CBF velocities (CBFV), forearm blood flow, and reactive hyperemia were assessed in 16 patients with diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension and compared with 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Pressure-dependent autoregulation was determined by escalating doses of phenylephrine. CO(2) vasoreactivity index was extrapolated from individual slopes of mean CBFV during normocapnia, hyperventilation, and CO(2) inhalation. Measurements were repeated after sodium nitroprusside infusion. Indexes of endothelial function, maximal and area under the curve (AUC) of forearm blood flow (FBF) changes, were significantly impaired in patients (maximal flow: 488 +/- 75 vs. 297 +/- 31%; P = 0.01, AUC DeltaFBF: 173 +/- 17 vs. 127 +/- 11; P = 0.03). Patients and controls showed similar changes in cerebrovascular resistance during blood pressure challenges (identical slopes). CO(2) vasoreactivity was impaired in patients compared with controls: 1.19 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.54 +/- 0.1 cm.s(-1).mmHg(-1); P = 0.04. NO donor (sodium nitroprusside) offsets this disparity. These results suggest that patients with endothelial dysfunction have impaired CO(2) vasoreactivity and preserved pressure-dependent autoregulation. This supports our hypothesis that NO is involved in CO(2)-dependent CBF regulation alone. CBFV chemoregulation could therefore be a surrogate of local cerebral endothelial function.

Large-amplitude, spatially correlated fluctuations in BOLD fMRI signals during extended rest and early sleep stages

A number of recent studies of human brain activity using blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI and EEG have reported the presence of spatiotemporal patterns of correlated activity in the absence of external stimuli. Although these patterns have been hypothesized to contain important information about brain architecture, little is known about their origin or about their relationship to active cognitive processes such as conscious awareness and monitoring of the environment. In this study, we have investigated the amplitude and spatiotemporal characteristics of resting-state activity patterns and their dependence on the subjects' alertness. For this purpose, BOLD fMRI was performed at 3.0 T on 12 normal subjects using a visual stimulation protocol, followed by a 27 min rest period, during which subjects were allowed to fall asleep. In subjects who were asleep at the end of the scan, we found (a) a higher amplitude of BOLD signal fluctuation during rest compared with subjects who were awake at the end of the scan; (b) spatially independent patterns of correlated activity that involve all of gray matter, including deep brain nuclei; (c) many patterns that were consistent across subjects; (d) that average percentage levels of fluctuation in visual cortex (VC) and whole brain were higher in subjects who were asleep (up to 1.71% and 1.16%, respectively) than in those who were awake (up to 1.15% and 0.96%) at the end of the scan and were comparable with those levels evoked by intense visual stimulation (up to 1.85% and 0.76% for two subject groups); (e) no confirmation of correlation, positive or negative, between thalamus and VC found in earlier studies. These findings suggest that resting-state activity continues during sleep and does not require active cognitive processes or conscious awareness.

The postural reduction in middle cerebral artery blood velocity is not explained by PaCO2

In the normocapnic range, middle cerebral artery mean velocity (MCA Vmean) changes approximately 3.5% per mmHg carbon-dioxide tension in arterial blood (PaCO2) and a decrease in PaCO2 will reduce the cerebral blood flow by vasoconstriction (the CO2 reactivity of the brain). When standing up MCA Vmean and the end-tidal carbon-dioxide tension (PETCO2) decrease, suggesting that PaCO2 contributes to the reduction in MCA Vmean. In a fixed body position, PETCO2 tracks changes in the PaCO2 but when assuming the upright position, cardiac output (Q) decreases and its distribution over the lung changes, while ventilation (VE) increases suggesting that PETCO2 decreases more than PaCO2. This study evaluated whether the postural reduction in PaCO2 accounts for the postural decline in MCA Vmean). From the supine to the upright position, VE, Q, PETCO2, PaCO2, MCA Vmean, and the near-infrared spectrophotometry determined cerebral tissue oxygenation (CO2Hb) were followed in seven subjects. When standing up, MCA Vmean (from 65.3+/-3.8 to 54.6+/-3.3 cm s(-1) ; mean +/- SEM; P<0.05) and cO2Hb (-7.2+/-2.2 micromol l(-1) ; P<0.05) decreased. At the same time, the VE/Q ratio increased 49+/-14% (P<0.05) with the postural reduction in PETCO2 overestimating the decline in PaCO2 (-4.8+/-0.9 mmHg vs. -3.0+/-1.1 mmHg; P<0.05). When assuming the upright position, the postural decrease in MCA Vmean seems to be explained by the reduction in PETCO2 but the small decrease in PaCO2 makes it unlikely that the postural decrease in MCA Vmean can be accounted for by the cerebral CO2 reactivity alone.

The Effect of Sevoflurane on Dynamic Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation Assessed by Spectral and Transfer Function Analysis

Sevoflurane reduces autonomic neural control, which plays a significant role in cerebral autoregulation. Therefore, we hypothesized that sevoflurane influences cerebral autoregulation. We investigated the effects of sevoflurane on dynamic cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation by using spectral and transfer function analysis between blood pressure variability and CBF velocity variability. Eleven healthy male subjects received 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% sevoflurane via facemask. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was evaluated by transfer function gain, phase, and coherence between CBF velocity in the middle cerebral artery measured by transcranial Doppler, and blood pressure in the radial artery. Coherence in the very low-frequency range (0.02-0.07 Hz) increased above 0.5 during administration of 0.5% and 1.0% sevoflurane. Transfer function gain in this frequency range (0.02-0.07 Hz), as an index of dynamic cerebral autoregulation, increased significantly with 0.5% and 1.0% sevoflurane. Transfer function gain and coherence in the low- and high-frequency ranges, however, remained unchanged during administration of sevoflurane. These results suggest that sevoflurane impairs dynamic cerebral autoregulation in the very-low-frequency range even with small concentrations, whereas dynamic cerebral autoregulation in the low- and high-frequency ranges remained unchanged.

Cerebral autoregulation is impaired in cardioinhibitory carotid sinus syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To compare changes in cerebral autoregulation in response to controlled, lower body negative pressure-induced hypotension in patients with carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) and case controls.

DESIGN

Prospective case controlled study.

SETTING

Secondary and tertiary referral falls and syncope service.

PATIENTS

17 consecutive patients with CSS and 11 asymptomatic controls.

INTERVENTIONS

Hypotension insufficient to cause syncope induced by lower body negative pressure (minimum 30 mm Hg fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP)) during concomitant transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cerebral autoregulation (systolic, diastolic and mean middle cerebral arterial blood flow velocities and cerebrovascular resistance) with continuous end-tidal carbon dioxide and haemodynamic monitoring.

RESULTS

Cerebral autoregulatory indices differed significantly between patients with CSS and controls. Systolic, diastolic and middle cerebral arterial blood flow velocities were, respectively, 9.2 m/s (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9 to 15.4 m/s), 4.7 m/s (95% CI 1.5 to 7.9 m/s) and 6.9 m/s (95% CI 2.5 to 11.4 m/s) slower in patients with CSS. Cerebrovascular resistance was significantly greater in patients with CSS than in controls at SBP nadir and suction release; differences were 0.9 mm Hg/m/s (95% CI 0.0 to 1.7 mm Hg/m/s) and 0.8 mm Hg/m/s (95% CI 0.0 to 1.7 mm Hg/m/s), respectively. End-tidal carbon dioxide and systemic haemodynamic variables were similar for patients and controls at baseline and during lower body negative pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Cerebral autoregulation is altered in patients with CSS. This difference may have aetiological implications in the differential presentation with falls and drop attacks rather than syncope.

Cerebral autoregulation is preserved during orthostatic stress superimposed with systemic hypotension

We sought to determine whether cerebral autoregulation (CA) is compromised during orthostatic stress superimposed with systemic hypotension. Transient systemic hypotension was produced by deflation of thigh cuffs previously inflated to suprasystolic pressure, combined with or without lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Cardiac output (CO) decreased from a baseline of 5.0+/-0.5 l/min by -8.3+/-1.7, -19.2+/-2.0, and -30.6+/-3.4% during LBNP of -15, -30, and -50 Torr, respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was maintained during LBNP, despite decreases in systolic and pulse pressures. Middle cerebral arterial blood flow velocity (VMCA) decreased significantly from a baseline of 64+/-3 to 58+/-4 cm/s (-9.7+/-2.4%) at -50 Torr of LBNP. The reduction in VMCA was associated with a decrease in regional cerebral O2 saturation. However, the percent decrease in VMCA was markedly less than that of CO. This suggests that the magnitude of the change in VMCA (an index of cerebral blood flow) is less than would be predicted, given the decrease in CO. Transient systemic hypotension decreased MAP by -21+/-2, -24+/-2, -28+/-3, and -26+/-3% at rest and during LBNP of -15, -30, and -50 Torr, respectively. Likewise, this acute hypotension resulted in decreases in VMCA of -20+/-2, -21+/-2, -24+/-25, and -19+/-2% and regional cerebral O2 saturation of -5+/-1, -6+/-1, -6+/-1, and -7+/-2% at rest and during LBNP of -15, -30, and -50 Torr, respectively. Complete recovery of VMCA to baseline values following transient hypotension (ranging from 5 to 8 s) occurred significantly earlier compared with MAP (from 10 to 12 s). No subjects experienced syncope during acute hypotension. We conclude that CA is preserved during LBNP, superimposed with transient systemic hypotension, despite the decrease in VMCA associated with sustained central hypovolemia in normal healthy individuals. This preserved CA is vital for the prevention of orthostatic syncope.

Blood oxygenation level dependent contrast resting state networks are relevant to functional activity in the neocortical sensorimotor system

The relevance of correlations between blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal changes across the brain acquired at rest (resting state networks, or RSN) to functional networks was tested using two quantitative criteria: (1) the localisation of major RSN correlation clusters and the task-related maxima defined in BOLD fMRI signal changes from the same subjects; and (2) the relative hemispheric lateralisation (LI) of BOLD fMRI signal changes in sensorimotor cortex. RSN were defined on the basis of signal changes correlated with that of a "seed" voxel in the primary sensorimotor cortex. We found a generally close spatial correspondence between clusters of correlated BOLD signal change in RSN and activation maxima associated with hand movement. Conventional BOLD fMRI during active hand movement showed the expected wide variation in relative hemispheric lateralisation of LI for sensorimotor cortex across the subjects. There was a good correlation between LIs for the active hand movement task and the RSN (r=0.74, p<0.001). The RSN thus define anatomically relevant regions of motor cortex and change with functionally relevant variations in hemispheric lateralisation of sensorimotor cortical interactions with hand movement.

Cerebral autoregulation in neurally mediated syncope: victim or executioner?

Involvement of cerebral vasoconstriction confirms the complexity of the pathophysiology of neurally mediated syncope, and the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to the study of this problem.

The effect of changes in cardiac output on middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity at rest and during exercise

We examined the relationship between changes in cardiac output and middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity (MCA V(mean)) in seven healthy volunteer men at rest and during 50% maximal oxygen uptake steady-state submaximal cycling exercise. Reductions in were accomplished using lower body negative pressure (LBNP), while increases in were accomplished using infusions of 25% human serum albumin. Heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure and MCA V(mean) were continuously recorded. At each stage of LBNP and albumin infusion was measured using an acetylene rebreathing technique. Arterial blood samples were analysed for partial pressure of carbon dioxide tension (P(a,CO2). During exercise HR and were increased above rest (P < 0.001), while neither MCA V(mean) nor P(a,CO2) was altered (P > 0.05). The MCA V(mean) and were linearly related at rest (P < 0.001) and during exercise (P = 0.035). The slope of the regression relationship between MCA V(mean) and at rest was greater (P = 0.035) than during exercise. In addition, the phase and gain between MCA V(mean) and mean arterial pressure in the low frequency range were not altered from rest to exercise indicating that the cerebral autoregulation was maintained. These data suggest that the associated with the changes in central blood volume influence the MCA V(mean) at rest and during exercise and its regulation is independent of cerebral autoregulation. It appears that the exercise induced sympathoexcitation and the change in the distribution of between the cerebral and the systemic circulation modifies the relationship between MCA V(mean) and .

Cerebral blood flow changes associated with fluctuations in alpha and theta rhythm during sleep onset in humans

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is typically reduced during stable non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep compared with the waking level. It is not known when in the sleep cycle these changes occur. However, spontaneous fluctuations in alpha and theta rhythm during sleep onset are associated with marked changes in cardio-respiratory control. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that changes in CBF would occur during sleep onset and would be related to changes in cortical activity. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAV) was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound, as an index of CBF, in 10 healthy subjects. Sleep state, ventilation, end tidal carbon dioxide (PET,CO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and cardiac R-R interval (RR) were monitored simultaneously. Immediately following the transition from alpha to theta rhythm (the transition from wake to sleep), ventilation decreased by 13.4% and tidal volume (VT) by 12.2% (P<0.01); PET,CO2 increased by 1.9% (P<0.01); respiratory frequency (fR) and SaO2 did not change significantly. MCAV increased by 9.7% (P<0.01); MABP decreased by 3.2% (P<0.01) but RR did not change significantly. Immediately following the transition from theta to alpha rhythm (spontaneous awakening), increased by 13.3% (P<0.01); VT increased by 11.4% (P<0.01); PET,CO2 decreased by 1.9% (P<0.01); MCAV decreased by 11.1% (P<0.01) and MABP decreased by 7.5%; fR, SaO2 and RR did not change significantly. These changes in MCAV during sleep onset cannot be attributed to changes in ventilation or MABP. We speculate that the changes in cerebral vascular tone during sleep onset are mediated neurally, by regulatory mechanisms linked to the changes in cortical state, and that these mechanisms are different from those regulating the longer-term reduction in CBF associated with stable non-REM sleep.

The Linear Behavior of the System Middle Cerebral Artery Flow Velocity and Blood Pressure in Patients With Migraine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Migraine is considered a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. We used the frequency analysis of dynamic cerebral autoregulation to assess whether blood flow regulation disturbances can be found at the frequencies at which sympathetic and parasympathetic activity is present.

METHODS

We measured simultaneously mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and the mean blood velocity (V) in the middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler ultrasound in 33 healthy controls (mean age+/-SD; 36+/-13 years) and in 22 patients with migraine (mean age; 39+/-7 years). Apart from assessing spectral power density for BP and V, we calculated the transfer function parameters gain, phase, and coherence at the frequency range between 0.0 and 0.25 Hz.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, the spectral power density of BP and V exhibited a maximum magnitude of 10(26) in the migraine patients, whereas the maximum magnitude of BP and V in the controls was 10(-3). Coherence showed no difference between patients and controls. Gain between BP and V increased in the controls >0.01 Hz but was approximately 0 or negative in the migraine patients over the whole frequency range (P<0.01). The usually observed phase lead of V against BP was absent in the migraine patients in whom BP leaded V over nearly the whole frequency range (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In terms of phase and gain, dynamic cerebral autoregulation is completely different in migraine patients compared with healthy subjects. Insofar, this can be interpreted as a lack of sympathetic and parasympathetic control of cerebral blood flow.

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation during brain activation paradigms

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) describes the transient response of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to rapid changes in arterial blood pressure (ABP). We tested the hypothesis that the efficiency of dynamic CA is increased by brain activation paradigms designed to induce hemispheric lateralization. CBF velocity [CBFV; bilateral, middle cerebral artery (MCA)], ABP, ECG, and end-tidal Pco2 were continuously recorded in 14 right-handed healthy subjects (21–43 yr of age), in the seated position, at rest and during 10 repeated presentations (30 s on-off) of a word generation test and a constructional puzzle. Nonstationarities were not found during rest or activation. Transfer function analysis of the ABP-CBFV (i.e., input-output) relation was performed for the 10 separate 51.2-s segments of data during activation and compared with baseline data. During activation, the coherence function below 0.05 Hz was significantly increased for the right MCA recordings for the puzzle tasks compared with baseline values (0.36 ± 0.16 vs. 0.26 ± 0.13, P < 0.05) and for the left MCA recordings for the word paradigm (0.48 ± 0.23 vs. 0.29 ± 0.16, P < 0.05). In the same frequency range, significant increases in gain were observed during the puzzle paradigm for the right (0.69 ± 0.37 vs. 0.46 ± 0.32 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05) and left (0.61 ± 0.29 vs. 0.45 ± 0.24 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05) hemispheres and during the word tasks for the left hemisphere (0.66 ± 0.31 vs. 0.39 ± 0.15 cm·s−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.01). Significant reductions in phase were observed during activation with the puzzle task for the right (−0.04 ± 1.01 vs. 0.80 ± 0.86 rad, P < 0.01) and left (0.11 ± 0.81 vs. 0.57 ± 0.51 rad, P < 0.05) hemispheres and with the word paradigm for the right hemisphere (0.05 ± 0.87 vs. 0.64 ± 0.59 rad, P < 0.05). Brain activation also led to changes in the temporal pattern of the CBFV step response. We conclude that transfer function analysis suggests important changes in dynamic CA during mental activation tasks.

Remote arteriolar dilations caused by methacholine: a role for CGRP sensory nerves?

Remote vasodilation caused by arteriolar microapplication of acetylcholine cannot be completely attributed to passive cell-cell communication of a hyperpolarizing signal. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether a neural component may be involved in the remote response. In the cheek pouch of anesthetized hamsters, methacholine (100 μM) was applied to the arteriole by micropipette for 5 s, and the arteriolar responses were measured at the site of application and at remote locations: 500 and 1,000 μm upstream from the application site. Superfusion with the local anesthetic bupivacaine attenuated a local dilatory response and abolished the conducted dilation response to methacholine. Localized micropipette application of bupivacaine 300 μm from the methacholine application site also attenuated the remote dilation but did not inhibit the local dilation. Blockade of neuromuscular transmission with botulinum neurotoxin A (1 U, 3 days), micropipette application of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor inhibitor CGRP-(8–37) (10 μM) 300 μm upstream from the methacholine application site, and denervation of the CGRP sensory nerve by 2 days of capsaicin treatment reduced the conducted dilation response to methacholine but did not affect the local dilatory response. Together, these data support involvement of a TTX-insensitive nerve, specifically the CGRP containing nerve, in vascular communication. Understanding the effect of regulation of a novel neural network system on the vascular network may lead to a new insight into regulation of blood flow and intraorgan blood distribution.

Cerebral blood flow during vagus nerve stimulation--a transcranial Doppler study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved treatment of partial onset seizures and has recently shown antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. This study was conducted to investigate whether acute VNS has an influence on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in humans.

METHODS

This investigation was designed as an add-on study. In 10 patients with an implanted stimulator who participated in a multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of VNS in depression, CBF was investigated by functional transcranial Doppler at baseline (before the stimulator was turned on for the first time) and during stimulation with three different stimulation intensities in a randomized order.

RESULTS

Immediately after every increase of the current, CBF velocity showed a nonsignificant increase. Otherwise, no change of CBF above standard deviation could be registered.

CONCLUSION

Acute VNS does not have an influence on CBF velocity in depressive patients.

Phase dynamics in cerebral autoregulation

Complex continuous wavelet transforms are used to study the dynamics of instantaneous phase difference delta phi between the fluctuations of arterial blood pressure (ABP) and cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in a middle cerebral artery. For healthy individuals, this phase difference changes slowly over time and has an almost uniform distribution for the very low-frequency (0.02-0.07 Hz) part of the spectrum. We quantify phase dynamics with the help of the synchronization index gamma = (sin delta phi)2 + (cos delta phi)2 that may vary between 0 (uniform distribution of phase differences, so the time series are statistically independent of one another) and 1 (phase locking of ABP and CBFV, so the former drives the latter). For healthy individuals, the group-averaged index gamma has two distinct peaks, one at 0.11 Hz [gamma = 0.59 +/- 0.09] and another at 0.33 Hz (gamma = 0.55 +/- 0.17). In the very low-frequency range (0.02-0.07 Hz), phase difference variability is an inherent property of an intact autoregulation system. Consequently, the average value of the synchronization parameter in this part of the spectrum is equal to 0.13 +/- 0.03. The phase difference variability sheds new light on the nature of cerebral hemodynamics, which so far has been predominantly characterized with the help of the high-pass filter model. In this intrinsically stationary approach, based on the transfer function formalism, the efficient autoregulation is associated with the positive phase shift between oscillations of CBFV and ABP. However, the method is applicable only in the part of the spectrum (0.1-0.3 Hz) where the coherence of these signals is high. We point out that synchrony analysis through the use of wavelet transforms is more general and allows us to study nonstationary aspects of cerebral hemodynamics in the very low-frequency range where the physiological significance of autoregulation is most strongly pronounced.