A síndrome isquêmica miocárdica instável (SIMI) leva a importantes alterações neurovasculares, tais como à hiperativação simpática e a diminuição do fluxo sanguíneo muscular (FSM) tanto em repouso como durante manobras fisiológicas como o exercício. A presença de alguns polimorfismos na genética humana, como o dos receptores \'beta\'2-adrenérgicos Gln27Glu, apresenta importante associação com a funcionalidade cardiovascular em indivíduos saudáveis. Contudo, não é conhecido se em pacientes com SIMI, a presença dos polimorfismos do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico leva a respostas neurovasculares distintas durante o exercício, e, ainda, se o treinamento físico poderá modificar essa resposta. OBJETIVOS: Estudar a influência do polimorfismo do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico Gln27Glu no controle neurovascular da atividade nervosa simpática muscular (ANSM) e do FSM em repouso e durante o exercício físico de preensão de mão, em pacientes com SIMI e, num segundo momento, avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico nas respostas neurovasculares durante o exercício nestes pacientes. MÉTODOS: Inicialmente, foram selecionados para o estudo, 78 pacientes com SIMI com fração de ejeção >= 45%, no momento da hospitalização. Um mês após o evento isquêmico, 61 pacientes retornaram para as avaliações iniciais. Os pacientes foram genotipados e posteriormente divididos em dois grupos de acordo com o polimorfismo Gln27Glu do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico: 1- Gln27Gln (CC, n=35) e 2- Gln27Glu+Glu27Glu (CG+GG, n=26). Destes, 29 pacientes concordaram em participar de um protocolo de treinamento físico por um período de 8 semanas, sendo que, 25 finalizaram o protocolo (CC, n=17; CG+GG, n=8). A avaliação do controle neurovascular foi realizada em repouso e durante o exercício físico de preensão de mãos em 30% da contração voluntária máxima. Foram avaliados a ANSM, medida pela técnica direta de microneurografia, o FSM, medido pelo método de pletismografia de oclusão venosa, a pressão arterial, medida pelo método oscilométrico indireto e a frequência cardíaca, pelo eletrocardiograma. Todas as avaliações foram realizadas nos pacientes um mês após o evento isquêmico e, para aqueles que participaram do protocolo de treinamento físico, foram repetidas após 8 semanas de intervenção. RESULTADOS: Um mês após o evento isquêmico, a ANSM (P=0,26) e a pressão arterial média (PAM, P=0,14) de repouso foram semelhantes entre os grupos com genótipo CC e CG+GG. Entretanto, durante o exercício, a resposta da ANSM foi maior no grupo CC quando comparado com o grupo com CG+GG (\'delta\'=11±2 vs. 4±2 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,02). Adicionalmente, a resposta de PAM foi maior no grupo CC quando comparado ao grupo CG+GG (\'delta\'=24±2 vs. 18±2 mmHg, P=0,04). A resposta de condutância vascular no antebraço (CVA) durante o exercício foi semelhante entre ambos os grupos. Após treinamento físico a ANSM basal diminuiu no grupo com genótipo CC (63±3 vs. 48±5 disparos/100batimentos, P <0,001), mas não no grupo com genótipo CG+GG (70±4 vs. 55±5 disparos/100batimentos, P =0,06). De forma semelhante, durante o exercício, o treinamento físico diminuiu o nível (P= 0,007) e a resposta da ANSM (\'delta\'=12±2 vs. 5±2 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,02) no grupo com genótipo CC, mas não no grupo com genótipo CG+GG (P=0,10) e (\'delta\'=7±3 vs. 7±3 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,96), respectivamente. O treinamento físico não modificou os níveis de PAM e CVA, durante o exercício, em ambos os grupos. Contudo, analisando-se o período pós-treinamento físico, o grupo CG+GG apresentou resposta de PAM menor (P=0,01) e CVA maior (P=0,03) durante o exercício quando comparado ao grupo CC. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com SIMI, portadores do genótipo CC do receptor \'beta\'-adrenérgico apresentam resposta aumentada da ANSM durante a manobra fisiológica de exercício, quando comparados aos pacientes com genótipo CG+GG. O treinamento físico reverte esta resposta exacerbada de ANSM nos pacientes com genótipo CC. Esses resultados sugerem um risco cardiovascular aumentado nos pacientes com SIMI com genótipo CC do receptor \'beta\'-adrenérgico. Por outro lado, o treinamento físico deve ser fortemente recomendado para esses pacientes, sobretudo naqueles com o genótipo CC. / Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) leads to important neurovascular abnormalities such as sympathetic hyperactivity and decreased forearm blood flow (FBF) at rest and during physiological maneuvers as exercise. The presence of some polymorphisms in human genetics, as the &#946;2-adrenoceptor Gln27Glu, presents a significant association with cardiovascular functionality in healthy subjects. However, it is not known whether in patients with ACS, the presence of polymorphisms of the &#946;2-adrenoceptor leads to distinct neurovascular responses during exercise, and if the exercise training can modify this response. OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of Gln27Glu \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms on neurovascular control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and FBF at rest and during handgrip exercise, in patients with ACS; and to evaluate the effect of exercise training on neurovascular responses during exercise in these patients. METHODS: Initially, were selected 78 patients with ACS with ejection fraction >= 45% at the time of hospitalization. One month after the ischemic event, 61 patients returned for the initial assessments. Patients were genotyped and then divided into two groups according to the Gln27Glu \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms: 1-Gln27Gln (CC, n=35) and 2-Gln27Glu + Glu27Glu (CG +GG, n=26). Of these, 29 patients agreed to participate in an exercise training protocol for a period of 8 weeks, but only 25 patients completed the protocol (CC, n=17; CG+GG, n=8). The evaluation of neurovascular control was performed at rest and during a handgrip exercise at 30% of the maximum voluntary contraction. We evaluated the MSNA, by the direct technique of microneurography, the FBF, by venous occlusion plethysmography technique, blood pressure (BP), by indirect oscillometric device and heart rate, by electrocardiogram. All evaluations were performed one month after the ischemic event and, for those patients subjected to the exercise training protocol the same evaluations were repeated after 8 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: One month after the ischemic event, the MSNA (P=0.26) and mean arterial pressure (MAP, P=0.14) at rest were similar between groups with genotype CC and CG+GG. However, during exercise, the response of MSNA was higher in the CC group compared with the CG+GG group (\'delta\'=11±2 vs. 4±2 bursts/100HB, P=0.02). In addition, BP response during exercise was higher in the CC group compared to the CG + GG group (\'delta\' =24 ±2 vs. 18±2 mmHg, P=0.04). The forearm vascular conductance (FVC) response during exercise was similar in both groups. After exercise training, baseline MSNA decreased in the group with CC genotype (63± 3vs. 48±5 bursts/100HB, P <0.001) but not in the group with CG+GG genotypes (70±4 vs. 55±5 bursts/100HB, P =0.06). Similarly, exercise training decreases the level (P= 0.007) and the response of MSNA (\'delta\'= 12±2 vs. 5±2 bursts/100HB, P= 0.02) during exercise in the group with CC genotype but not in the CG+GG group (P= 0.10) and (\'delta\'=7±3 vs 7±3 bursts/100HB, P= 0.96), respectively. Exercise training did not change the levels of MAP and FVC, during exercise in both groups. However, in the post exercise training period, the CG+GG group had lower MAP response (P =0.01) and higher FVC (P =0.03) during exercise compared to the CC group. CONCLUSION: Patients with ACS, carrying the CC genotype of the \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor have increased MSNA response during physiological maneuver as exercise when compared with patients carrying the CG+GG genotype. Exercise training reverses this exacerbated response of MSNA in patients with CC genotype. These results suggest an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with ACS with CC genotype of the \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor. Furthermore, exercise training should be strongly recommended for patients with ACS, especially for those with the CC genotype

A síndrome isquêmica miocárdica instável (SIMI) leva a importantes alterações neurovasculares, tais como à hiperativação simpática e a diminuição do fluxo sanguíneo muscular (FSM) tanto em repouso como durante manobras fisiológicas como o exercício. A presença de alguns polimorfismos na genética humana, como o dos receptores \'beta\'2-adrenérgicos Gln27Glu, apresenta importante associação com a funcionalidade cardiovascular em indivíduos saudáveis. Contudo, não é conhecido se em pacientes com SIMI, a presença dos polimorfismos do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico leva a respostas neurovasculares distintas durante o exercício, e, ainda, se o treinamento físico poderá modificar essa resposta. OBJETIVOS: Estudar a influência do polimorfismo do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico Gln27Glu no controle neurovascular da atividade nervosa simpática muscular (ANSM) e do FSM em repouso e durante o exercício físico de preensão de mão, em pacientes com SIMI e, num segundo momento, avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico nas respostas neurovasculares durante o exercício nestes pacientes. MÉTODOS: Inicialmente, foram selecionados para o estudo, 78 pacientes com SIMI com fração de ejeção >= 45%, no momento da hospitalização. Um mês após o evento isquêmico, 61 pacientes retornaram para as avaliações iniciais. Os pacientes foram genotipados e posteriormente divididos em dois grupos de acordo com o polimorfismo Gln27Glu do receptor \'beta\'2-adrenérgico: 1- Gln27Gln (CC, n=35) e 2- Gln27Glu+Glu27Glu (CG+GG, n=26). Destes, 29 pacientes concordaram em participar de um protocolo de treinamento físico por um período de 8 semanas, sendo que, 25 finalizaram o protocolo (CC, n=17; CG+GG, n=8). A avaliação do controle neurovascular foi realizada em repouso e durante o exercício físico de preensão de mãos em 30% da contração voluntária máxima. Foram avaliados a ANSM, medida pela técnica direta de microneurografia, o FSM, medido pelo método de pletismografia de oclusão venosa, a pressão arterial, medida pelo método oscilométrico indireto e a frequência cardíaca, pelo eletrocardiograma. Todas as avaliações foram realizadas nos pacientes um mês após o evento isquêmico e, para aqueles que participaram do protocolo de treinamento físico, foram repetidas após 8 semanas de intervenção. RESULTADOS: Um mês após o evento isquêmico, a ANSM (P=0,26) e a pressão arterial média (PAM, P=0,14) de repouso foram semelhantes entre os grupos com genótipo CC e CG+GG. Entretanto, durante o exercício, a resposta da ANSM foi maior no grupo CC quando comparado com o grupo com CG+GG (\'delta\'=11±2 vs. 4±2 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,02). Adicionalmente, a resposta de PAM foi maior no grupo CC quando comparado ao grupo CG+GG (\'delta\'=24±2 vs. 18±2 mmHg, P=0,04). A resposta de condutância vascular no antebraço (CVA) durante o exercício foi semelhante entre ambos os grupos. Após treinamento físico a ANSM basal diminuiu no grupo com genótipo CC (63±3 vs. 48±5 disparos/100batimentos, P <0,001), mas não no grupo com genótipo CG+GG (70±4 vs. 55±5 disparos/100batimentos, P =0,06). De forma semelhante, durante o exercício, o treinamento físico diminuiu o nível (P= 0,007) e a resposta da ANSM (\'delta\'=12±2 vs. 5±2 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,02) no grupo com genótipo CC, mas não no grupo com genótipo CG+GG (P=0,10) e (\'delta\'=7±3 vs. 7±3 disparos/100batimentos, P=0,96), respectivamente. O treinamento físico não modificou os níveis de PAM e CVA, durante o exercício, em ambos os grupos. Contudo, analisando-se o período pós-treinamento físico, o grupo CG+GG apresentou resposta de PAM menor (P=0,01) e CVA maior (P=0,03) durante o exercício quando comparado ao grupo CC. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com SIMI, portadores do genótipo CC do receptor \'beta\'-adrenérgico apresentam resposta aumentada da ANSM durante a manobra fisiológica de exercício, quando comparados aos pacientes com genótipo CG+GG. O treinamento físico reverte esta resposta exacerbada de ANSM nos pacientes com genótipo CC. Esses resultados sugerem um risco cardiovascular aumentado nos pacientes com SIMI com genótipo CC do receptor \'beta\'-adrenérgico. Por outro lado, o treinamento físico deve ser fortemente recomendado para esses pacientes, sobretudo naqueles com o genótipo CC. / Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) leads to important neurovascular abnormalities such as sympathetic hyperactivity and decreased forearm blood flow (FBF) at rest and during physiological maneuvers as exercise. The presence of some polymorphisms in human genetics, as the &#946;2-adrenoceptor Gln27Glu, presents a significant association with cardiovascular functionality in healthy subjects. However, it is not known whether in patients with ACS, the presence of polymorphisms of the &#946;2-adrenoceptor leads to distinct neurovascular responses during exercise, and if the exercise training can modify this response. OBJECTIVES: To study the influence of Gln27Glu \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms on neurovascular control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and FBF at rest and during handgrip exercise, in patients with ACS; and to evaluate the effect of exercise training on neurovascular responses during exercise in these patients. METHODS: Initially, were selected 78 patients with ACS with ejection fraction >= 45% at the time of hospitalization. One month after the ischemic event, 61 patients returned for the initial assessments. Patients were genotyped and then divided into two groups according to the Gln27Glu \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms: 1-Gln27Gln (CC, n=35) and 2-Gln27Glu + Glu27Glu (CG +GG, n=26). Of these, 29 patients agreed to participate in an exercise training protocol for a period of 8 weeks, but only 25 patients completed the protocol (CC, n=17; CG+GG, n=8). The evaluation of neurovascular control was performed at rest and during a handgrip exercise at 30% of the maximum voluntary contraction. We evaluated the MSNA, by the direct technique of microneurography, the FBF, by venous occlusion plethysmography technique, blood pressure (BP), by indirect oscillometric device and heart rate, by electrocardiogram. All evaluations were performed one month after the ischemic event and, for those patients subjected to the exercise training protocol the same evaluations were repeated after 8 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: One month after the ischemic event, the MSNA (P=0.26) and mean arterial pressure (MAP, P=0.14) at rest were similar between groups with genotype CC and CG+GG. However, during exercise, the response of MSNA was higher in the CC group compared with the CG+GG group (\'delta\'=11±2 vs. 4±2 bursts/100HB, P=0.02). In addition, BP response during exercise was higher in the CC group compared to the CG + GG group (\'delta\' =24 ±2 vs. 18±2 mmHg, P=0.04). The forearm vascular conductance (FVC) response during exercise was similar in both groups. After exercise training, baseline MSNA decreased in the group with CC genotype (63± 3vs. 48±5 bursts/100HB, P <0.001) but not in the group with CG+GG genotypes (70±4 vs. 55±5 bursts/100HB, P =0.06). Similarly, exercise training decreases the level (P= 0.007) and the response of MSNA (\'delta\'= 12±2 vs. 5±2 bursts/100HB, P= 0.02) during exercise in the group with CC genotype but not in the CG+GG group (P= 0.10) and (\'delta\'=7±3 vs 7±3 bursts/100HB, P= 0.96), respectively. Exercise training did not change the levels of MAP and FVC, during exercise in both groups. However, in the post exercise training period, the CG+GG group had lower MAP response (P =0.01) and higher FVC (P =0.03) during exercise compared to the CC group. CONCLUSION: Patients with ACS, carrying the CC genotype of the \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor have increased MSNA response during physiological maneuver as exercise when compared with patients carrying the CG+GG genotype. Exercise training reverses this exacerbated response of MSNA in patients with CC genotype. These results suggest an increased cardiovascular risk in patients with ACS with CC genotype of the \'beta\'2-adrenoceptor. Furthermore, exercise training should be strongly recommended for patients with ACS, especially for those with the CC genotype

Orientador: Roberto Jose Maria Covolan / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T12:47:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mesquita_RicksonCoelho_D.pdf: 22300712 bytes, checksum: 11bd3fc16a125afc1c2cd8b4d18bc2e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A atividade neuronal relacionada a um determinado estímulo ou tarefa induz uma cadeia de complexos eventos biológicos no cérebro. O aumento no consumo de energia induz um acréscimo na demanda por glicose e oxigênio no tecido extravascular. Fatores bioquímicos e neuronais induzem variações nos vasos sanguíneos que resultam em alterações de uxo sanguíneo, volume e oxigenação. Embora extensivamente investigada, esta cascata de eventos ainda é pouco compreendida. Neste projeto, procuramos descrever o acoplamento entre os níveis celular, metabólico e vascular associado à ativação funcional do cérebro. Usando medidas eletro fisiológicas, modelamos os sistemas neuro-vascular e neuro-metabólico para descrever a hemodinâmica cerebral medida através de técnicas ópticas. Resultados obtidos em ratos durante a estimulação de um fio de bigode mostraram que a determinação de uma função resposta para cada sistema, assumido como linear, descreve bem o comportamento hemodinâmico e possibilita o estudo dos estados vascular e metabólico caracterizados pelos parâmetros medidos. A partir de experimentos multimodais de NIRS e fMRI, desenvolvemos metodologias inovadoras para a determinação de imagens metabólicas, capazes de prever variações do consumo de oxigênio com boa resolução espacial e temporal. Por fim, analisamos a in u^encia de parâmetros fisiológicos no sinal óptico, mostrando a contribuição importante da pressão sanguínea na composição deste. Medidas de correlação temporal foram projetadas para gerar mapas de correlação vascular que podem ser aplicados ao estudo da conectividade vascular cerebral, tanto em indivíduos normais como em pacientes com patologias cerebrais. / Abstract: Task-associated neuronal activity leads to a complex chain of biological events within the brain. The increased energetics gives rise to elevated glucose and oxygen consumption in the tissue. Biochemical and neuronal factors induce changes in blood vessels and variations in blood ow, volume and oxygenation. Although it has been extensively investigated, this cascade of events is still poorly understood and highly debated. In this project, the aim was to describe the coupling among the cellular, metabolic and vascular levels associated to functional brain activation. Using electrophysiological measurements, we modeled the neuro-vascular and neuro-metabolic systems in order to describe cerebral hemodynamics as seen through optical techniques. Results obtained in rats during whisker-barrel stimulation showed that the determination of a response function for each system, assumed as linear, can describe the hemodynamic behavior and allow the study of the vascular and metabolic states characterized by the measurements. From multimodal experiments of NIRS and fMRI, we developed unique methods to the determination of metabolic images, which can predict changes in oxygen consumption with good temporal and spatial resolution. Finally, we analyzed the in uence of the physiology in the optical signal, and showed the importance of taking into account blood pressure oscillations into this signal. Measurements of temporal correlation were projected to generate vascular correlation maps that may be useful to the study of cerebral vascular connectivity, both in normal subjects and in patients with cerebral pathologies. / Doutorado / Metodos Oticos de Analise / Doutor em Ciências

Title: Acute neuroinflammatory reaction after focal cerebral ischemia Aim: The aim of this thesis is to evaluate neuroinflammatory response after focal cerebral cortical ischemia. Also, familiarizing with the method of displaying damage of blood brain barriers, neurons and the possibility of detection of microglia cells as a marker of acute neuroinflammatory processes. Methodology: This is an experimental study. We brought about cortical cerebral ischemia in rats using an application of photosensitive dye "bengal red," and a green laser. Two animals were were given the additional application of "Evans blue" in order to visualize the defects of the blood brain barrier. The animals were returned to their cage for the time needed before they were induced terminal anesthesia. This was followed by the process of brain perfusion, slicing the brain in sections 50 µm thick and then applied these sections onto slides. Sections with applied EB were immediately analyzed under the microscope. Sections to illustrate neuronal death were immunohistochemically stained via the Nissl method. Sections visualizing microglial activity were stained using CD11b antibody. Results: Following the induction of focal ischemia there occured brain tissue damage. In the vicinity of lesion there is degeneration of neurons and...

The current work investigated the stimulation induced spatial response of the cerebral microvascular network by reconstruction of the 3D microvascular morphology from in vivo two photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) volumes using an automated, model based tracking algorithm. In vivo 2PFM imaging of the vasculature in the forelimb representation of the primary somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats was achieved via implantation of a closed cranial window, and intravascular injection of fluorescent dextran. The dilatory and constrictory responses of the cerebral microvascular network to functional stimulation were heterogeneous and depended on resting vascular radius and response latency. Capillaries experienced large relative dilations and constrictions, but the larger vessel absolute volume changes dominated the overall network cerebral blood volume change.

The current work investigated the stimulation induced spatial response of the cerebral microvascular network by reconstruction of the 3D microvascular morphology from in vivo two photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) volumes using an automated, model based tracking algorithm. In vivo 2PFM imaging of the vasculature in the forelimb representation of the primary somatosensory cortex of alpha-chloralose anesthetized rats was achieved via implantation of a closed cranial window, and intravascular injection of fluorescent dextran. The dilatory and constrictory responses of the cerebral microvascular network to functional stimulation were heterogeneous and depended on resting vascular radius and response latency. Capillaries experienced large relative dilations and constrictions, but the larger vessel absolute volume changes dominated the overall network cerebral blood volume change.

Vascular cognitive impairment describes a heterogeneous condition in which cognitive decline is precipitated by underlying cerebrovascular dysfunction. Ageing, as well as vascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, cerebral small vessel disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, are risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment. The precise mechanisms by which these conditions impact the cerebral vasculature to drive cognitive decline, however, are unknown. Previous research has indicated that vascular risk factors can lead to microvascular oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that can lead to tissue hypoperfusion, the development of white and grey matter vascular lesions (microinfarcts and microbleeds) and cognitive impairment. It was hypothesised that ageing, a prominent risk factor for cognitive decline, would induce impairments on neurovascular coupling resulting from neurovascular unit disruption. It was further hypothesised that induction of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion would mediate neurovascular dysfunction and vascular lesion development through increased oxidative stress, resulting in cognitive decline. Finally, it was also hypothesised that neurovascular impairments resulting from ageing and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion would be exacerbated in the presence of amyloid deposition. Four studies were performed in order to test these hypotheses. Vascular risk factors can be reproduced using experimental mouse models and provide a valuable basis in which to test hypotheses and therapeutic interventions. As such, a primary aim of this thesis was to develop and validate sensitive MRI approaches that would allow the detection of vascular alterations in vivo. In the first series of studies, MRI techniques to assess resting cerebral blood flow, vessel number, vascular lesions and inflammation in experimental mice were validated using established in vivo and ex vivo techniques, so that these techniques could be used in subsequent studies for vascular assessments in vivo. Arterial spin labelling was developed to assess resting cerebral blood flow, and was able to detect reductions in blood flow following cerebral hypoperfusion that correlated well with those obtained from laser speckle imaging. Q-map imaging was able to detect reductions in vessel number in acute lesions, and in non-lesioned mice measures of vessel number correlated well with histopathological measures. Structural T2 imaging was performed in order to detect ischaemic and haemorrhagic lesions in chronically hypoperfused mice, and was validated using H&E and Perls’ staining. Finally, contrast-enhanced T2* imaging was used to detect iron oxide uptake by macrophages in the brains of hypoperfused mice, which was further validated by the identification of iron-containing macrophages in immunostained brain sections. The second study was conducted to test the hypothesis that ageing would impair neurovascular unit function and structure, and that these impairments would be exacerbated in the presence of amyloid pathology. The aim of the study was to incorporate previously developed in vivo imaging approaches in the assessment of vascular function and alterations in neurovascular unit structure in both wild type and TgSwDI mice. As predicted, ageing caused a pronounced deficit on measures of neurovascular coupling, however this was not exacerbated by accumulation of amyloid in TgSwDI mice and was not associated with alterations in baseline blood flow measured by arterial spin labelling. Structural assessment of the neurovascular unit revealed a loss of contact between astrocytic endfeet and vasculature, which was significantly associated with the impairment on neurovascular coupling, in addition to other markers of breakdown of the neurovascular unit such as loss of pericyte coverage and microglial activation. Age and thalamic vascular amyloid accumulation were also associated with an increase in the NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunit p47, indicative of increased oxidative stress. Data from this experiment indicate that ageing can profoundly impair neurovascular coupling, mediated by gliosis and loss of astrocytic contacts with vasculature. The third study aimed to test the hypothesis that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (a prominent early feature of vascular cognitive impairment) would impair vascular function and induce the development of vascular lesions and cognitive decline. The impact of hypoperfusion on neurovascular coupling, ischaemic and haemorrhagic lesion burden and cognition was investigated in wild type and TgSwDI mice. Hypoperfusion induced deficits on neurovascular coupling, increased lesion burden and inflammation assessed with T2 and contrast-enhanced T2* imaging, and caused impairment on measures of learning and memory. Hypoperfusion was also associated with an increase in the levels of NOX2, NOX4 and 3-NT at 3 months following surgery, indicating persistent reactive oxygen species production and oxidative damage in hypoperfused mice. The findings from this study indicate that vascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment following hypoperfusion may be mediated by increased NADPH oxidase activity and resulting oxidative stress. The previous studies indicated that markers of oxidative stress were induced in response to ageing, vascular amyloid accumulation and cerebral hypoperfusion. The final study sought to determine whether increased NOX activity mediates downstream pathological effects on vascular function, vascular lesion development and cognitive decline following hypoperfusion. NOX activity was inhibited pharmacologically by administration of apocynin to hypoperfused TgSwDI mice for 3 months following surgery. Treatment with apocynin significantly restored neurovascular coupling to a level similar to sham-operated mice, and there was a trend toward reduction of ischaemic vascular lesions. However, it was unable to rescue the prominent inflammatory response or decline in cognitive ability, as apocynin-treated mice were no different on these measures to non-treated hypoperfused mice. The data indicate that whilst inhibiting NOX may have potential therapeutic value in improving vascular function, additional interventions, for example to reduce inflammation, may also be required in order to prevent cognitive decline. Overall, the work outlined within the thesis indicate that vascular risk factors of ageing, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cerebral hypoperfusion may converge on common pathways involving oxidative stress and increased inflammation in order to drive vascular dysfunction and lead to cognitive decline. Inhibition of NOX activity was able to rescue vascular function, however the results indicate that this was not sufficient to protect against cognitive impairment, suggesting additional therapeutic targets may need to be sought in order to fully preserve vascular health and prevent cognitive decline.

Le couplage étroit entre l'activité neuronale et l'augmentation du flux sanguin, appelé couplage neurovasculaire (CNV), est essentiel aux fonctions cérébrales. Ce processus est à la base de l'imagerie médicale cérébrale non invasive utilisée pour déterminer l'activité neuronale chez l'individu sain ou malade. Cependant, les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires du CNV restent encore débattus. La compréhension de ce processus permettra non seulement une interprétation plus fine des signaux d'imagerie cérébrale mais également un meilleur diagnostic des maladies neurologiques.De nombreux messagers vasoactifs sont impliqués dans le CNV du cortex cérébral. Les prostanoïdes, notamment libérés lors de l'activation des récepteurs NMDA, sont impliqués dans l'augmentation du flux sanguin cérébral. Cependant, l'origine cellulaire, moléculaire, la nature ainsi que les cibles de ces messagers lipidiques restent incertaines.La prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) et la prostacycline (PGI2), produits par les cyclo-oxygénases de type 1 ou 2 (COX-1 ou COX-2) et des enzymes terminales, sont les deux principaux prostanoïdes vasodilatateurs du cortex cérébral. Ce travail a montré que les vasodilatations induites par le NMDA dépendent de la COX-2 et nécessitent également l'activation des récepteurs EP2 et EP4 de la PGE2 et IP de la PGI2et que les neurones pyramidaux sont les principales cellules du cortex cérébral équipées pour la biosynthèse de la PGE2 et de la PGI2.L'ensemble de ces travaux démontre que les neurones pyramidaux jouent donc un rôle clé dans le CNV cortical via la libération de la PGE2. Produite par la COX-2, la PGE2 agit sur les récepteurs EP2 et EP4 et induit des vasodilatations. / The tight coupling between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow, known as neurovascular coupling (NVC), is essential for brain functions. It is also the physiological basis of cerebral imaging, widely used to map neuronal activity in health and disease. Despite this importance, its cellular and molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. A better understanding of NVC will not only permit an accurate interpretation of cerebral imaging but also a better diagnosis of neurological diseases. In the cerebral cortex, numerous messengers are involved in NVC. Prostanoids, released during NMDA receptors activation, play a key role in NVC. However, the cellular and molecular origins, as well as the nature and the targets of this lipid messengers remain elusive. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), produced by the rate limiting cyclo-oxygenases 1 or 2 (COX-1 or COX-2) and specific terminal enzymes, are the main cortical vasodilatory prostanoid. This work shows that NMDA-induced vasodilations are COX-2 dependent and require the activation of EP2 and EP4 receptors of PGE2 and IP receptors of PGI2. Furthermore, pyramidal cells are the main cell type equipped for the biosynthesis of PGE2 and PGI2 derived from COX-2 activity. In summary, these observations demonstrate that pyramidal cells play a key role in NVC by releasing PGE2 produced via COX-2 and acting on the vasodilatory EP2 and EP4 receptors.

The brain – the organ that allows us to be aware of our surroundings – consists of a complex network of neurons, which seemingly allows the human brain to be able of abstract thinking, emotions, and cognitive function. To learn how the brain is capable of this, the two main branches of neuroscience study either neurons in detail, or how they communicate within neuronal networks. Both these branches often tackle the complexity using a combination of experiments and mathematical modelling. A third and less studied aspect of neuroscience concerns the neurovascular coupling (NVC), for which my research group has previously developed mathematical models. However, these NVC models have still not integrated valuable data from rodents and primates, and the NVC models are also not connected to existing neuronal network models. In this project, I address both of these two shortcomings. First, an existing model for the NVC was connected with a simple model for neuronal networks, establishing a connection between the NVC models and the software NEURON. Second, we established a way to preserved information from NVC data from rodents and mice into NVC models humans. This work thus connects the previously developed NVC model both with data from other species and with other types of models. This brings us one step closer to a more holistic and interconnected understanding of the brain and its many intriguing cognitive and physiological functions.

L’activateur tissulaire du plasminogène (tPA) est une sérine protéase initialement découverte dans le sang pour sa capacité à convertir le plasminogène en plasmine, une enzyme capable de dégrader les chaînes de fibrine des caillots sanguins. Pour cette fonction pro-fibrinolytique, le tPA est le seul traitement pharmacologique aujourd’hui utilisé dans la phase aiguë de l’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) de type ischémique, même s’il présente plusieurs limites. Outre son rôle dans la fibrinolyse, le tPA est aussi capable de moduler différents phénomènes physiologiques et pathologiques au sein du système nerveux central et de l’unité neurovasculaire, tels que la mémoire, l’excitotoxicité ou encore le couplage neurovasculaire comme décrit plus récemment. Plusieurs fonctions du tPA impliquent son interaction avec les récepteurs N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA), qui permet de potentialiser leur signalisation. Sur le plan structurel, deux formes du tPA ont été identifiées : une forme simple chaîne (sc-tPA) et une forme double chaîne (tc-tPA). Ces deux formes, dont les proportions peuvent varier dans la solution administrée aux patients pour la thrombolyse post-AVC ischémique, partagent certaines fonctions communes mais peuvent aussi avoir des actions différentes. Le premier objectif de nos travaux visait à mieux comprendre l’implication du tPA dans le couplage neurovasculaire, un phénomène essentiel au fonctionnement cérébral permettant aux régions en activité de bénéficier d’un apport accru en sang afin de subvenir à la demande énergétique des neurones. Dans une seconde partie, nous nous sommes intéressés aux effets des formes sc-tPA et tc-tPA utilisées lors de la thrombolyse dans un modèle murin d’AVC ischémique thromboembolique.Premièrement, nos résultats mettent en évidence la capacité du tPA vasculaire à augmenter l’hyperhémie fonctionnelle dans le cadre du couplage neurovasculaire. En effet, nous montrons chez la souris que le tPA vasculaire peut interagir avec les récepteurs NMDA présents à la surface des cellules endothéliales des artères et artérioles, et augmenter leur dilatation lors d’une activité neuronale. D’autre part, dans le cadre de l’ischémie cérébrale, nos résultats indiquent que lorsqu’ils sont utilisés pour la thrombolyse précoce, le sc-tPA et le tc-tPA ont des effets différents et parfois opposés. Le sc-tPA permet de réduire les volumes de lésion et d’améliorer la récupération fonctionnelle, alors que le tc-tPA est moins efficace pour réduire la lésion et ne diminue pas les déficits fonctionnels. De fait, nos données montrent que le tc-tPA aggrave l’altération de l’intégrité de la barrière hématoencéphalique par rapport au sc-tPA. Dans l’ensemble, ces données permettent d’améliorer les connaissances sur les mécanismes d’actions du tPA dans des phénomènes physiologiques et pathologiques importants. Nos travaux soulignent également la nécessité de prendre en compte les différences entre les formes de tPA dans l’amélioration du traitement actuel des AVC et dans l’élaboration de futures stratégies thérapeutiques impliquant cette molécule. / The tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease initially discovered in the blood for its ability to convert plasminogen into plasmin, an enzyme capable of degrading fibrin chains of blood clots. tPA is the only pharmacological treatment currently used for the acute phase of ischemic stroke, although it has several limitations. Besides its role in fibrinolysis, tPA also modulates various physiological and pathological phenomena within the central nervous system and neurovascular unit, such as memory, excitotoxicity and neurovascular coupling, which has been described recently. Several functions of tPA involve its interaction with N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which leads to an increase in NMDA signaling. Structurally, two forms of tPA have been identified: a single chain form (sc-tPA) and a double chain form (tc-tPA). These two forms, whose proportions vary in the solution administered for thrombolysis during ischemic stroke, share some common functions but may also differ in their therapeutic action. The first objective of our work was to better understand the implication of tPA in neurovascular coupling, which is an essential phenomenon for cerebral functioning that allows active brain regions to benefit from increased blood supply in order to meet local energy demands. In the second part of our work, we investigated the effects of sc-tPA and tc-tPA in a murine model of ischemic thromboembolic stroke.Our results establish a role for vascular tPA in increasing functional hyperemia in neurovascular coupling. We show that vascular tPA interacts with NMDA receptors present at the surface of endothelial cells of arteries and arterioles to increase their dilation during neuronal activity. In the context of cerebral ischemia, our results indicate that when administered during early thrombolysis, sc-tPA and tc-tPA have different and sometimes opposite effects. tc-tPA is less effective than sc-tPA in reducing lesion volume and protecting against functional impairment. In fact, our data show that tc-tPA worsens the integrity of the blood-brain barrier compared to sc-tPA. Overall, these data improve our knowledge of the mechanisms of action of tPA in important physiological and pathological phenomena. Our work underlines the need to take into account differences between sc-tPA and tc-tPA when trying to improve the current treatment for stroke and in the development of future therapeutic strategies involving this molecule.