Research Focus 2

Autonomic Nervous System in Cerebral Ischemia

The cerebral arteries densely innervated by perivascular nerves from the sympathetic and parasympathetic outflows of the autonomic nervous system. These nerves play a central role in vascular tone regulation. Perivascular sympathetic nerves mediating global ischemia-induced hypoperfusion are not well-defined. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to delineate the pathophysiological mechanism(s) of the perivascular sympathetic nerves on ischemia-induced cerebral blood flow derangements as related to brain injury/neurocognitive deficits. We hypothesize that perivascular sympathetic nerves on cerebral arteries mediate cerebral blood flow derangements and neuronal cell death in the hippocampus and cortex after ischemia. We are currently investigating 1) if sympathetic nervous system contributes to cerebral blood flow derangements, neuronal cell death, and neurological deficits following ischemia 2) if attenuation of the sympathetic nervous system provides beneficial effects to combat against ischemia-related neuronal deficits. 3) potential neurotransmitters (e.g., norepinephrine, neuropeptide Y, and nitric oxide) involved in cerebrovascular disease processes.