SYMPATHETIC DENERVATION AND THE CEREBROVASCULAR RESPONSE TO HYPERTENSION INDUCED BY N(G)-NITRO-L-ARGININE METHYL-ESTER

Cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization were measured in rat neoco rtex, using [C-14]iodoantipyrine and 2-deoxy-D-[C-14]glucose quantitat ive autoradiography, respectively, following nitric oxide synthesis in hibition with L-NAME. In intact animals cortical blood flow was decrea sed, despite increased arterial blood pressure above autoregulatory li mits, whilst glucose use remained unaffected. Unilateral sympathectomy at the superior cervical ganglion had no effect, suggesting that the autoregulatory response to L-NAME-induced hypertension is independent of sympathetic activity.