Long-term effects of superior cervical ganglionectomy on cortical blood flow of non-anesthetized rabbits in resting and hypertensive conditions.

The long-term effects of sympathectomy on cerebral cortical blood flow (CBF) were studied in the conscious rabbit. The quantitative, repeated measurements of blood flow were made by determination of helium clearance by mass spectrometry and were obtained simultaneously with measurements of local tissue pO2 and pCO2. Eight to 10 weeks after unilateral sympathectomy, resting blood flow in the homolateral cortex was decreased by a mean of 17% compared to the heterolateral cortex.