Abstract #0803

Stefanovic B, Silva A, Bosetti F

The inhibition of COX-2 was found to produce a pronounced disturbance in the cerebrovascular coupling in anesthetized rats. The administration of Meloxicam attenuated the CBF response to forepaw stimulation by ~70% and the BOLD response by ~50% of their respective predrug magnitudes, while SEP responses remained unaffected. The administration of PGE2 produced a parial recovery of the hemodynamic responses, suggesting a modulatory role of COX-2 in the cerebrovascular coupling. The persistence of the neuronal response despite much attenuated hemodynamics is indicative of a metabolic buffer in the tissue.