Autoregulation of Cerebral Blood Flow

Abstract

Changes in blood flow through the internal carotid, vertebral and external carotid arteries were measured by electromagnetic flowmeters during and after acute hypertension induced by closing a clamp around the thoracic aorta in anesthetized monkeys. The internal carotid and vertebral arterial system showed both rapid and delayed autoregulatory responses to rapid increases in blood pressure; the rapid (primary) responses occurred within seconds, the progressive (delayed) within 3 to 4 minutes. In contrast, the flow response within the external carotid system appeared to be passive. Cervical sympathetic innervation and myogenic reflexes (Bayliss reflex) both appear to play a part in the rapidly occurring (primary) regulation of cerebral blood flow. The mechanism responsible for delayed and progressive (secondary) autoregulation in the cerebral vasculature appeared to be metabolic, since it was predominantly influenced by changes in blood Pco₂. Changes in intracranial pressure did not seem to be involved in autoregulation.