Vasodilator system for the face.

The authors describe investigations in cats to delineate a vasodilator system to the face, which they undertook after a previous study showed that radiofrequency coagulation of the trigeminal ganglion produced a pronounced flush in the skin of the corresponding division. Results demonstrate a vasodilator system emerging from the brain stem with the facial nerve which, by way of the greater superficial petrosal nerve, reaches the trigeminal ganglion. There the fibers are distributed to each of the divisions of the fifth nerve; in addition, a moderate number of vasodilator fibers also appear to leave the brain stem directly with the trigeminal nerve. Vasodilator fibers also appear to leave the brain stem directly with the trigeminal nerve. Vasodilator effects were elicited by stereotaxic stimulation of the facial and trigeminal nuclei in the brain stem. There is, therefore, a dual vasomotor control of the facial cutaneous vascular bed; the classical sympathetic vasoconstrictor system of the face is complemented by a vasodilator system capable of producing changes of equal but opposite amplitude in vessel caliber.