Oxygen radicals do not play a role in arteriolar dilation during cortical spreading depression

This study examined the role of oxygen radicals in pial arteriolar changes during cortical spreading depression (CSD). CSD was induced by microinjection of 5% KCl in anesthetized adult rabbits. Pial diameter was measured with a closed cranial window and intravital microscopy. During control CSD (n = 12), the dilation amplitude and area were 55 +/- 14% and 693 +/- 69 mm2 (baseline = 76 +/- 14 microns), respectively. Oxygen radical scavengers, superoxide dismutase (SOD; 105 U/ml, topical application; n = 5) or oxypurinol (50 mg/kg i.v.; n = 7), did not alter the dilation amplitude and area or change onset latency during CSD. Further, SOD and oxypurinol did not prevent NG-nitro-L-arginine from attenuating arteriolar dilation during CSD (n = 12). We conclude that oxygen radicals do not play a role in the transient dilation of cerebral arterioles during CSD.