NADH augments blood flow in physiologically activated retina and visual cortex

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307458100
• Publication Date: 2004-01-13T18:28:06Z
• Authors: Yasuo Ido; Katherine Chang; Joseph R. Williamson
• Keywords: Male; Retinal Vessels; NAD; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; 03 medical and health sciences; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; 0302 clinical medicine; Pyruvic Acid; Animals; Lactic Acid; Energy Metabolism; Visual Cortex

The mechanism(s) that increase retinal and visual cortex blood flows in response to stimulation are poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis increased transfer of electrons protons from glucose cytosolic free NAD(+), reducing it NADH, evoked by energy metabolism, fuels redox-signaling pathways augment flow. near-equilibrium between NADH/NAD(+) lactate/pyruvate ratios established lactate dehydrogenase predicts additional injected NAD(+) will elevated stimulated retina cortex, whereas NADH pyruvate attenuate flows. These predictions were confirmed rats. Increased also prevented inhibition nitric oxide synthase. findings support an important role for fueling a signaling cascade increases *NO production, which augments flow photostimulated cortex.