Activation-flow coupling (AFC), the coupling of changes in cerebral blood f
low (CBF) with neuronal function, is the basis for many functional neuroima
ging techniques. Prior studies have shown that females have higher cerebral
blood flow levels than males and that estrogen may affect the mediators in
volved in AFC. No studies have compared AFC responses between males and fem
ales. We assessed the AFC responses to forepaw stimulation using signal-ave
raged laser Doppler (LD) measurements of CBF in alpha-chloralose anesthetiz
ed female and male rats. Results for various stimulus parameters were simil
ar for both sexes except at 2 Hz where females had a higher blood flow resp
onse. These results suggest that the AFC responses in males and females are
similar, but require further validation in humans. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien
ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.