Anoxia and adenosine induce increased cerebral blood flow rate in crucian carp.

The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) has the rare ability to survive prolonged anoxia, indicating an extraordinary capacity for glycolytic ATP production, especially in a highly energy-consuming organ like the brain. For the brain to be able to increase its glycolytic flux during anoxia and profit from the large liver glycogen store, an increased glucose delivery from the blood would be expected. Nevertheless, the effect of anoxia on brain blood flow in crucian carp has never been studied previously. We have used epireflection microscopy to directly observe and measure blood flow rate on the brain surface (optic lobes) during normoxia and anoxia in crucian carp. We have also examined the possibility that adenosine participates in the regulation of brain blood flow rate in crucian carp. The results showed a 2.16-fold increase in brain blood flow rate during anoxia. A similar increase was seen after topical application of adenosine during normoxia, while adenosine was without effect during anoxia. Moreover, superfusing the brain with the adenosine receptor blocker aminophylline inhibited the effect of anoxia on brain blood flow rate, clearly suggesting a mediatory role of adenosine in the anoxia-induced increase in brain blood flow rate.