Response of local blood flow in the caudate nucleus of the cat to intraventricular administration of carbachol

The effect of perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing carbachol on the blood flow in the caudate nucleus of the cat and the possibility to inhibit this effect by anticholinergic drugs was studied by means of the hydrogen clearance technique. After a control period during which both lateral ventricles were perfused with artificial CSF of identical composition, the drug under study was added on one side (experimental side) while the other side continued to be perfused with the control artificial CSF (control side). The blood flow on the experimental side and on the control side were compared. A dose dependent response to carbachol was observed. Lower concentrations of carbachol (10(-6) up to 10(-4)M) caused vasodilatation whereas high concentrations (10(-3)M) caused local vasoconstriction. The increase in the local blood flow caused by the low carbachol concentrations was reduced by both atropine (10(-5)M) and hexamethonium (10(-3)M). The fall in CBF observed with the high carbachol concentration was prevented by atropine (10(-5)M). It may be concluded that low, physiologically more meaningful, carbachol concentrations cause a local vasodilatation due to interaction with both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.