The effect of alpha adrenergic blockade on spinal cord autoregulation in the monkey

Abstract

Spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was measured over a wide range of artificially varied mean systemic arterial blood pressures. (MAP) in a group of monkeys with .alpha.-adrenergic receptors blocked by the i.v. administration of phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline). The SCBF varied linearly with changes in MAP. Autoregulation was apparently abolished. This was evidence for a dominant role of the sympathetic nervous system in control of the spinal circulation.