DIFFERENTIAL-EFFECTS OF TRANSIENT OCCLUSION OF COMMON CAROTID ARTERIES IN NORMOTENSIVE RATS ON THE SOMATOSENSORY AND VISUAL-SYSTEM

The effect of transient occlusion of both carotid arteries in normotensive rats (BCCA) on the electrical function of the central nervous system was monitored by recording somato-sensory evoked potentials (SEPs), visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and electroretinogram (ERG). The amplitude and latency of cortical SEPs were not affected by BCCA. In contrast, the latency of P1 and N1 of VEPs were increased and the peak-to-peak amplitude (P1-N1) decreased. The amplitude of the b-wave of the ERG was reduced and its latency increased during BCCA. These changes in VEPs and ERG were limited to the period of BCCA. During the first hour of reperfusion VEPs and the b-wave of the ERG revealed no differences between former occluded animals and sham-operated controls. The present results suggest that both sensory pathways display a different susceptibility to BCCA.