Dysfunction of XXXX cerebral arteries during early aging.

@entity64 @entity303 @entity19 @entity409 @entity3158 @entity141
UNASSIGNED: Aging leads to a gradual decline in the fidelity of cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to neuronal activation, resulting in an increased risk for @entity64 and @entity303 . However, it is currently unknown when age-related @entity409 starts or which vascular components and functions are first affected. The aim of this study was to examine the function of microcirculation throughout aging in @entity19 . Microcirculation was challenged by inhalation of 5% and 10% @entity3158 or by forepaw stimulation in 6-week, 8-month, and 12-month-old FVB/ @entity19 . The resulting dilation of pial vessels and increase in CBF was measured by intravital fluorescence microscopy and laser Doppler fluxmetry, respectively. Neurovascular coupling and astrocytic endfoot @entity141 were measured in acute brain slices from 18-month-old @entity19 . We did not reveal any changes in CBF after @entity3158 reactivity up to an age of 12 months. However, direct visualization of pial vessels by in vivo microscopy showed a significant, age-dependent loss of @entity3158 reactivity starting at 8 months of age. At the same age neurovascular coupling was also significantly affected. These results suggest that aging does not affect cerebral vessel function simultaneously, but starts in pial microvessels months before global changes in CBF are detectable.Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow _ Metabolism advance online publication, 10 June 2015; doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2015.107.
