Abstract
Abstract
Effects of intraarterial norepinephrine on cerebral hemodynamics were investigated in conscious newborn pigs. Intracarotid infusion of norepinephrine (100 ng/min) increased cerebral blood flow from 72 ± 5 to 82 ± 8 ml/100 g·min. The norepinephrine-induced increase in cerebral blood flow was accompanied by an increase in cerebral oxygen consumption from 2.75 ± 0.17 to 3.11 ± 0.29 ml O2/100 g·min. Both the increase in cerebral oxygen consumption and the increase in cerebral blood flow were blocked by propranolol and unchanged by combined prazosin and yohimbine treatment. These data show that intraarterial norepinephrine increases cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen consumption in newborn pigs. β-Adrenergic stimulation increases cerebral oxygen consumption. This increase may produce the increase in cerebral blood flow caused by the norepinephrine.
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