Well-maintained responses of acetylcholine release and blood flow in the cerebral cortex to focal electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in aged rats.

Responses of extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) release and blood flow in the cerebral cortex in the parietal lobe following focal electrical stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) ipsilateral to the parietal cortex were compared in healthy adult (6-8 months) and aged (27-28 months) Fischer-344 rats anesthetized with halothane. The focal electrical stimulation of the NBM produced an increase in the ACh release and blood flow in the parietal cortex in both the adult and aged rats. The increased responses of ACh and blood flow observed in the healthy, adult rats were well maintained in the aged rats.