Posttraumatic Hypothermia followed by Slow Rewarming Protects the Cerebral Microcirculation
EIICHI SUEHIRO, YUJI UEDA, ENOCH P. WEI, HERMES A. KONTOS, and JOHN T. POVLISHOCK
J of Neurotrauma, 2003
Rats were prepared for assessment of microcirculation prior to and after traumatic brain injury. It was found that posttraumatic hypothermia followed by slow rewarming maintained normal responses in terms of ACh-dependent dilation and CO2 reactivity. In contrast, rats subjected to traumatic brain injury followed by normothermia or hypothermia and rapid rewarming showed impaired vasoreactivity in terms of their ACh-dependent and CO2 responses. This study demonstrates that the neuroprotective effects extend to the cerebral microcirculation.