Acetazolamide and CO2

Abstract

In the brain, the middle cerebral artery exhibits substantial dependence of flow velocity on the vasodilators CO2 and acetazolamide. In contrast, the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries appear less responsive. Nonetheless, the combination of carbonic anhydrase inhibition (acetazolamide) with CO2 augmentation did lower vascular resistance distal to the central retinal artery, suggesting that this mechanism vasodilates critical ocular tissues.