Beta-adrenergic effects on cerebral circulation.

Noradrenaline, adrenaline, and isoprenaline were infused intracarotidly and the regional cerebral blood flow measured with the intracarotid injection-stationary detector method in patients undergoing carotid angiography. No effect was seen, and beta blockade with intracarotid propranolol also had no effect. The adrenergic effects on cerebral blood vessels are probably neurogenic, and circulating adrenergic agonists and antagonists are unlikely to play a role. Pertubations of adrenergic substances in blood are therefore unlikely to be important in migraine pathophysiology.