Blood flow and metabolism are greatest in the auditory system
Experiments on cerebral circulation (in
cats) showed greatest perfusion of a
radioactive tracer after 60 seconds, thus
greatest blood flow, in nuclei of the
brainstem auditory pathway.
Auditory nuclei should therefore be
vulnerable to circulatory arrest or
asphyxia, or to any factor that disrupts
aerobic metabolism
Why is this not always the case?
Protective mechanisms go into
action that work to preserve
metabolic functions during
hypoxia or circulatory insufficiency.
From: Kety SS (1962) Regional neurochemistry
and its application to brain function. In French,
JD, ed, Frontiers in Brain Research. New York:
Columbia University Press, pp 97-120
January 2006
Working version
1
1
Landau et al. (1955) The local circulation of the living brain; values in the
unanesthetized and anesthetized cat. Trans Am Neurol Assoc 80:125
