Elevated pyramidal cell firing orchestrates arteriolar vasoconstriction through COX-2-derived prostaglandin E2 signaling.

ABSTRACT: Neurovascular coupling, linking neuronal activity to cerebral blood flow, is essential for brain function and underpins functional brain imaging. Whereas mechanisms involved in vasodilation are well-documented, those controlling vasoconstriction remain overlooked. This study unravels the mechanisms by which pyramidal cells elicit arteriole vasoconstriction. Using patch-clamp recording, vascular and Ca²⁺ imaging in mouse cortical slices, we show that strong optogenetic activation of layer II/III pyramidal cells induces vasoconstriction, correlating with firing frequency and somatic Ca²⁺ increase. Ex vivo and in vivo pharmacological investigations indicate that this vasoconstriction predominantly recruits prostaglandin E2 through the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, and activa

SUBMITTER: Le Gac B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12017770 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature