Vascular responses of choroid plexus during hypercapnia in rats

The response of blood flow to choroid plexus (CPBF) during hypercapnia is controversial. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of hypercapnia on CPBF in unanesthetized rats. Rats breathed air or a mixture of 5-8% CO2 in air, and CPBF was measured with [14C]isopropyliodoamphetamine and quantitative autoradiography. In hypercapnic rats [arterial PCO2 61.6 +/- 1.6 (SE) mmHg; n = 7] CPBF was similar to that of normocapnic control rats (525 +/- 39 ml.min-1.100 g-1; arterial PCO2 42.7 +/- 0.6 mmHg; n = 5). In contrast, blood flow to cerebral cortex increased 67% during hypercapnia. CPBF in normocapnic rats that were treated with phentolamine was similar to untreated normocapnic and hypercapnic rat CPBF. However, during hypercapnia, CPBF in phentolamine-treated rats increased 29%. Responses were similar in blood flow to choroid plexus of lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. Our findings indicate that hypercapnia has no effect on CPBF when alpha-adrenergic receptors are intact. In contrast, after blockade of alpha-adrenergic receptors, hypercapnia increases CPBF. These findings suggest that, during hypercapnia, levels of sympathetic activity or blood-borne catecholamines are increased that prevent increases in CPBF.