L-NA-sensitive rCBF augmentation during vibrissal stimulation in type III nitric oxide synthase mutant mice.

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied in type III nitric oxide (NO) synthase (endothelial, eNOS) mutant and wild type mice during mechanical whisker stimulation before and after nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) superfusion using the closed cranial window technique. rCBF increased equally in cortical barrel fields in both strains during stimulation, as measured by laser Doppler-flowmetry, and was inhibited by L-NA superfusion (1 mM) in both groups. Hence, coupling of blood flow and metabolism appears neuronal NOS-(nNOS) but not eNOS-dependent in cortical barrel fields of the mouse.