Metabolism-independent cerebral vasodilation elicited by electrical stimulation of the centromedian-parafascicular complex in rat.

Changes in local cerebral blood flow (1CBF) and local cerebral glucose utilization (1CGU) during electrical stimulation of the centromedian-parafascicular complex in rat have been determined using the autoradiographic [14C]iodoantipyrine and 2-deoxy-[14C]glucose methods. In 40 out of 47 cerebral regions measured, the centromedian-parafascicular complex (CM-Pf) stimulation elicited an increase in 1CBF. The increase in 1CBF was not associated with a rise in cerebral metabolism in 38 regions. Thus, it appears that the activation of CM-Pf neurons or fibers passing through it could play an important role in regulating primary cerebral vasodilation.