Regional cerebral blood flow in conscious miniature swine during high sustained +Gz acceleration stress.

The two major factors limiting performance during high +Gz acceleration stress are loss of vision, and loss of consciousness. These symptoms are believed to occur as a result of insufficient blood flow to the retina and brain. This study was conducted to determine the effects of +Gz stress on regional cerebral blood flow. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured in 22 conscious, female, miniature swine with the radio-labeled microsphere technique. Acceleration exposures consisted of 60-S plateaus at +3Gz, +5Gz or +7Gz. Microsphere infusions were made before, during, 1.0-6.0 min after, and 10 min after +Gz. Blood flow to the retina was significantly decreased during exposure to +5Gz and ceased during exposure to +7Gz stress. Mean, resting control CBF was 34 +/- 4 ml/min/100 g. Exposure to +3Gz and +5Gz had no significant effect on CBF. Exposure to +7Gz appeared to cause a redistribution of CBF, with blood flow to the brain stem being preserved and flow to the cerebrum being diminished.