Cerebral blood flow during chronic hypoglycemia in the rat

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in normoglycemic and chronically hypoglycemic rats. Chronic hypoglycemia was produced by continuously infusing insulin for 6-7 days. During chronic hypoglycemia (plasma glucose = 1.97 mumol/ml), rCBF increased in all regions except the cerebellum and hypothalamus. Blood flow increases present during chronic hypoglycemia were not as great as those previously measured during acute hypoglycemia. Therefore, adjustments in the regulation of rCBF occurred during chronic hypoglycemia compared to acute hypoglycemia.