American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. · Dec 2017
Effect of increases in cardiac contractility on cerebral blood flow in humans.
The effect of acute increases in cardiac contractility on cerebral blood flow (CBF) remains unknown. We hypothesized that the external carotid artery (ECA) downstream vasculature modifies the direct influence of acute increases in heart rate and cardiac function on CBF regulation. Twelve healthy subjects received two infusions of dobutamine [first a low dose (5 μg·kg-1·min-1) and then a high dose (15 μg·kg-1·min-1)] for 12 min each. ⋯ NEW & NOTEWORTHY A dobutamine-induced increase in cardiac contractility did not increase internal carotid artery blood flow despite an increase in cardiac output and arterial blood pressure. In contrast, external carotid artery blood flow and conductance increased. This external cerebral blood flow response may assist with protecting from overperfusion of intracranial blood flow.