Adrenosensitivity of injured afferent neurons does not require the presence of postganglionic sympathetic terminals.

Nerve injury sometimes triggers neuropathic pain states that are exacerbated by sympathetic efferent activity. A classic example is causalgia. The mechanism of coupling between sympathetic efferent activity and the afferent discharge responsible for pain sensation is a subject of controversy.

A combined heat clearance method for tissue blood flow measurement.

Tissue Blood Flow is measured by applying a combined procedure of two independent approaches based on heat clearance: the Pulse Decay Method and the Continuous Method. The Pulse Method allows absolute assessment of tissue BF with no need for calibration, and can be applied only if the tissue BF is steady during the period of measurement. On the other hand, the Continuous Method enables the observation of rapid changes in tissue BF, and can be applied under non steady-state conditions.

Cortical cerebral blood flow is enhanced by hornet venom.

This study examined the effect of Oriental hornet venom sac extract (VSE) on the rate of local blood flow in the cerebral cortex of rats. Sublethal doses of VSE in isotonic saline solution were injected into the femoral vein of anaesthetised rats and the rate of blood flow was assessed by the hydrogen clearance technique both before the envenomation as well as during the following 150 min. The injection of VSE was found to induce a prolonged elevation of blood flow in the cerebral cortex.

Transient effect on mannitol on cerebral blood flow following brain injury.

CBF and ICP were measured in cats following cerebral cold injury and mannitol infusion. Mannitol was found to reduce the intracranial hypertension caused by the injury. The restoration of CBF and ICP was of short duration and was followed by a reduction of CBF and elevation of ICP.