Arterial sympathetic innervation and cerebrovascular diseases in original rat models.

The role of the arterial sympathetic innervation in cerebrovascular pathology was investigated in new experimental models using Brown Norway (BN) and Long-Evans (LE) rats. The BN rat is susceptible to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within the cerebral cortex when rendered hypertensive whereas the LE rat is prone to cerebral aneurysms (CAs) in arteries of the circle of Willis with hypertension and carotid ligation. Noradrenaline (NA) content, determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was lower both in the caudal and cerebral arteries in the BN than in the LE rat.

Evidence of functional myocardial ischemia associated with myocardial dysfunction in brain-dead pigs.

Background: Cardiac dysfunction after brain death has been documented, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Myocardial ischemia has been suggested as a possible cause. The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of an imbalance between myocardial oxygen delivery and demand as a possible cause of myocardial dysfunction in brain-dead pigs.