Neurovascular coupling of the posterior cerebral artery in spinal cord injury: a pilot study

Aaron A Phillips; Andrei V Krassioukov; Mei Mu Zi Zheng; Darren E R Warburton

doi:10.3390/brainsci3020781

Neurovascular coupling of the posterior cerebral artery in spinal cord injury: a pilot study

Brain Sci. 2013 May 8;3(2):781-9. doi: 10.3390/brainsci3020781.

Authors

Aaron A Phillips¹, Andrei V Krassioukov², Mei Mu Zi Zheng³, Darren E R Warburton¹

Affiliations

¹ Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada. andrei.krassioukov@vch.ca.
² International Collaboration of Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada. andrei.krassioukov@vch.ca.
³ Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada. meimuzizheng@hotmail.com.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare neurovascular coupling in the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) between those with spinal cord injury (SCI) and able bodied (AB) individuals.

Methods: A total of seven SCI and seven AB were matched for age and sex. Measures included PCA velocity (PCAv), beat-by-beat blood pressure and end-tidal carbon dioxide. Posterior cerebral cortex activation was achieved by 10 cycles of (1) 30 s eyes closed (pre-stimulation), (2) 30 s reading (stimulation).

Results: Blood pressure was significantly reduced in those with SCI (SBP: 100 ± 13 mmHg; DBP: 58 ± 13 mmHg) vs.

Ab (sbp: 121 ± 12 mmHg; DBP: 74 ± 9 mmHg) during both pre-stimulation and stimulation, but the relative increase was similar during the stimulation period. Changes in PCAv during stimulation were mitigated in the SCI group (6% ± 6%) vs. AB (29% ± 12%, P < 0.001). Heart rate and end-tidal carbon dioxide responded similarly between groups.

Conclusions: Clearly, NVC is impaired in those with SCI. This study may provide a link between poor perfusion of the posterior cerebral region (containing the medullary autonomic centres) and autonomic dysfunction after SCI.