Cerebral Blood Flow in Primates Is Increased by Isoflurane over Time and Is Decreased by Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition

Abstract

These data demonstrate that CBF increases over time during isoflurane anesthesia in primates. Tonic production of NO contributes to control of CBF in primates during isoflurane anesthesia. Increased CBF by L-arginine after L-NAME supports the hypothesis that L-NAME decreases CBF via a mechanism requiring NO synthesis.