Pharmacological analysis of the adrenergic control of the cerebral circulation.

The adrenergic control of the cerebral circulation was subjected to pharmacological analysis. The status of the cerebral circulation was assessed using radioisotope, electromagnetic and resistographic methods. EEG, ECG and arterial pressure were recorded. The acid-base equilibrium and oxygen tension were measured in the arterial blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The experiments showed that the sympathetic innervation plays an important role in controlling cerebral circulation and in the development of cerebrovascular disorders. This was indicated by the constriction of intracranial arteries induced by noradrenaline, stimulation of sympathetic nerves, reflex sympathetic activations and the effect of potassium chloride on the centrol nervous system. The pharmacological study demonstrated that constriction of the intracranial vessels is brought about by an activation of the sympatho-adrenal system which is mediated via alpha-adrenoreceptors of cerebral blood vessels.