Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 542, Issue 1, 22 February 1991, Pages 43-48
Brain Research

Effect of amphetamine on cerebral blood flow and capillary perfusion

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)90995-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the cerebral regional microvascular and vascular responses to amphetamine sulfate at a dose (5 mg/kg) known to affect neuronal function. Cerebral blood flow (14C-iodoantipyrine method) and percent of perfused capillaries (fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran and alkaline phosphatase staining method) were determined during control and after intravenous administration of amphetamine in conscious Long-Evans rats. Amphetamine caused an increase in blood pressure (34%) and heart rate (31%). There was a significant increase in averaged cerebral blood flow from 98 ± 8 to 166 ± 9 ml/min/100 g after amphetamine. This flow increase was significant in the cortex, basal ganglia, pons and medulla, however the increase was not significant in the hypothalamus. In control rats, there were approximately 325 ± 17 capillaries/mm2 of brain tissue and 52 ± 1% of them were perfused. Amphetamine increased the percent perfused significantly to 72 ± 1% in all examined regions. There was a similar significant increase in the percent of perfused cerebral capillary volume fraction. There were both vascular and microvascular responsesto amphetamine, increasing cerebral blood flow as well as reducing the diffusion distance for oxygen.

References (28)

  • Francois-DainvilleE. et al.

    Effects of hypoxia on percent arteriolar and capillary beds perfused in rat brain

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1986)
  • GöbelU. et al.

    Lack of capillary recruitment in the brain of awake rats during hypercapnia

    J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metabol.

    (1989)
  • GöbelU. et al.

    Congruence of total and perfused capillary network in rat brains

    Circ. Res.

    (1990)
  • GroverG.J. et al.

    Effect of hemorrhage on regional morphometric indexes of cerebral capillarity

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1986)
  • Cited by (18)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text