CO2 signaling mediates neurovascular coupling in the cerebral cortex

Patrick S. Hosford (), Jack A. Wells, Shereen Nizari, Isabel N. Christie, Shefeeq M. Theparambil, Pablo A. Castro, Anna Hadjihambi, L. Felipe Barros, Iván Ruminot (), Mark F. Lythgoe and Alexander V. Gourine ()
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Patrick S. Hosford: University College London
Jack A. Wells: University College London
Shereen Nizari: University College London
Isabel N. Christie: University College London
Shefeeq M. Theparambil: University College London
Pablo A. Castro: Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs) & Universidad San Sebastián
Anna Hadjihambi: University College London
L. Felipe Barros: Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs) & Universidad San Sebastián
Iván Ruminot: Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs) & Universidad San Sebastián
Mark F. Lythgoe: University College London
Alexander V. Gourine: University College London

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Neurovascular coupling is a fundamental brain mechanism that regulates local cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to changes in neuronal activity. Functional imaging techniques are commonly used to record these changes in CBF as a proxy of neuronal activity to study the human brain. However, the mechanisms of neurovascular coupling remain incompletely understood. Here we show in experimental animal models (laboratory rats and mice) that the neuronal activity-dependent increases in local CBF in the somatosensory cortex are prevented by saturation of the CO2-sensitive vasodilatory brain mechanism with surplus of exogenous CO2 or disruption of brain CO2/HCO3− transport by genetic knockdown of electrogenic sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) expression in astrocytes. A systematic review of the literature data shows that CO2 and increased neuronal activity recruit the same vasodilatory signaling pathways. These results and analysis suggest that CO2 mediates signaling between neurons and the cerebral vasculature to regulate brain blood flow in accord with changes in the neuronal activity.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29622-9

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