Caveolae in CNS arterioles mediate neurovascular coupling.

ABSTRACT: Proper brain function depends on neurovascular coupling: neural activity rapidly increases local blood flow to meet moment-to-moment changes in regional brain energy demand¹. Neurovascular coupling is the basis for functional brain imaging², and impaired neurovascular coupling is implicated in neurodegeneration¹. The underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurovascular coupling remain poorly understood. The conventional view is that neurons or astrocytes release vasodilatory factors that act directly on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to induce arterial dilation and increase local blood flow¹. Here, using two-photon microscopy to image neural activity and vascular dynamics simultaneously in the barrel cortex of awake mice under whisker stimul

SUBMITTER: Chow BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7060132 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature