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EVER 2013 Lecture: Advances in OCT imaging
Author(s) -
SCHMETTERER L
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2013.122.x
Subject(s) - neuroscience , retina , medicine , optic nerve , premovement neuronal activity , retinal , ophthalmology , biology
In the brain there is a tight coupling between local neural activity and local blood flow and metabolism. This phenomenon called neurovascular coupling was proposed more than 100 years ago and since then confirmed by numerous experiments. A breakdown in functional hyperemia has been hypothesized to contribute to loss of neurons in diseases such as stroke, hypertension, spinal‐cord injury and Alzheimer’s disease. In the eye this phenomenon exists as well. During stimulation of the eye with flicker light there is a pronounced increase in retinal and optic nerve head blood flow. The mechanisms underlying neuromuscular coupling in the retina are complex and involve the interaction between neurons, astrocytes and blood vessels. In this process vasoactive arachidonic acid metabolites play a key role. In addition, the vascular endothelium is involved. The response of retinal vessels to flicker stimulation is also modified by nitric oxide and oxygen. Neurovascular coupling is altered in diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes and may contribute to neuronal loss in these diseases. A better understanding of these phenomena is required to achieve neuroprotection via the neuromuscular pathway.