Neurovascular coupling, also known as functional activation, refers to cerebral blood flow increase to a localized region in the capillary network in response to variation of neuronal activity. To meet the metabolic demands of brain tissues during functional activation, an adequate supply and distribution of red blood cells (RBC) is needed. Transient changes of local RBC concentration impact massively on the local flow resistance of the cerebral microcirculation. In turn, this will modulate the blood flow and pressure field leading to perfusion differences across the whole capillary network.
It is known that vascular smooth muscle cells at the level of penetrating arterioles can regulate the blood flow in the cerebral microcirculation in case of increased metabolic needs. However, recent studies reported that perivascular cells known as pericyte can induce variations in the capillary diameter which may constitute an alternative way to regulate the blood flow. This may suggest that the flow regulation upon increased neural activity begins at the capillary level and propagates towards the penetrating arterioles. Nonetheless, the degree of influence on the cerebral blood flow up-regulation resulting from the activation of pericytes is yet to be assessed.
This project aims at providing a quantitative understanding of the hemodynamics in the cerebral microcirculation by means of in vitro microfluidic models of capillary networks focusing on the mechanisms driving the RBC distribution at the capillary level during pericyte activation.
