Brain Capillary Pericytes Exert a Substantial but Slow Influence on Blood Flow

Overview

Journal Nat Neurosci

Date 2021 Feb 19

PMID 33603231

Citations 168

Authors

David A Hartmann

Andree-Anne Berthiaume

Roger I Grant

Sarah A Harrill

Tegan Koski

Taryn Tieu

Konnor P McDowell

Anna V Faino

Abigail L Kelly

Andy Y Shih

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The majority of the brain's vasculature is composed of intricate capillary networks lined by capillary pericytes. However, it remains unclear whether capillary pericytes influence blood flow. Using two-photon microscopy to observe and manipulate brain capillary pericytes in vivo, we find that their optogenetic stimulation decreases lumen diameter and blood flow, but with slower kinetics than similar stimulation of mural cells on upstream pial and precapillary arterioles. This slow vasoconstriction was inhibited by the clinically used vasodilator fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor that blocks contractile machinery. Capillary pericytes were also slower to constrict back to baseline following hypercapnia-induced dilation, and slower to dilate towards baseline following optogenetically induced vasoconstriction. Optical ablation of single capillary pericytes led to sustained local dilation and a doubling of blood cell flux selectively in capillaries lacking pericyte contact. These data indicate that capillary pericytes contribute to basal blood flow resistance and slow modulation of blood flow throughout the brain.

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