NITRIC-OXIDE PARTICIPATES IN THE CEREBROVASODILATION ELICITED FROM CEREBELLAR FASTIGIAL NUCLEUS

The endothelium-derived relaxing factor, probably NO, is a potent vasodilator that mediates the vasodilating action of acetylcholine (ACh). We studied whether NO participates in the cholinergic cerebrovasodilation elicited by stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN). Rats were anesthetized with halothane and ventilated. FN or pontine reticular formation (PRF) were stimulated through microelectrodes. Hypertension was prevented by spinal cord transection with arterial pressure maintained by intravenous phenylephrine. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was continuously monitored through a cranial window over the sensory cortex by a laser-Doppler probe. The window was superfused with Ringer solution (pH 7.3-7.4; 37-degrees-C). During Ringer superfusion FN stimulation (100 muA; 50 Hz) increased CBF by 90 +/- 7% (n = 27; P < 0.001, analysis of variance and Tukey's test) and PRF stimulation (100 muA; 100 Hz) by 128 +/- 18% (P < 0.001; n = 9). Superfusion with the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (MB) (1 mM) attenuated the CBF increase elicited by FN stimulation by 77 +/- 3% (n = 22; P < 0.001). MB did not affect the CBF increase elicited by PRF stimulation (+98 +/- 18%; n = 9; P > 0.05). Similarly, superfusion with the NO-synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) attenuated the CBF increase elicited by FN stimulation (-67 +/- 3%; n = 14; P < 0.001 from Ringer) but not PRF stimulation (P > 0.05; n = 9). The CBF increases elicited by FN stimulation were not affected by the inactive isomer of nitroarginine, D-NA (P > 0.05; n = 7). Thus the neocortical vasodilation elicited by FN stimulation is substantially attenuated by inhibition of NO synthesis or inhibition of the enzyme mediating NO action. The results indicate that the vasodilation elicited by FN stimulation is mediated, for the most part, by arginine-derived NO and suggest that NO may be important also in the regulation of the cerebral circulation.