Contribution of cholinergic vasodilators on the increase in cerebral cortical blood flow responses to the intravenous administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone in anesthetized rats.

ABSTRACT

The effect of an intravenous administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the regional cerebral blood flow in the sensory cortex was studied in halothane-anesthetized adult Wistar rats. The regional cerebral blood flow was continuously monitored with the laser Doppler flowmetry. The cerebral blood flow increased dose-dependently following the administration of 3 x 10(2) and 3 x 10(3) microns/kg TRH. The systemic blood pressure also increased simultaneously. After maintaining the systemic blood pressure at a constant level via a pressure reservoir system, the TRH-induced increases in the cerebral blood flow continued to be observed. In atropinized animals, the blood pressure increased as high as that indicated in non-atropinized animals following TRH administration, but the responses of the cerebral blood flow in the latter were much attenuated. It was suggested that the cholinergic vasodilative system contributed to the TRH-induced increase in cerebral blood flow.