Bilateral innervation of the cerebral arteries by the superior cervical ganglion in cats

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Abstract
The effect of removal of the left superior cervical ganglion on the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) was studied in isolated segments of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior communicating artery (PCoA) of the cat. Days (15) after the excision, each dose of NE elicited a potentiated response in the MCA and the PCoA, whichever side they originated. 5-HT included enhanced vasoconstriction at each dose only in the MCA and PCoA from the left side. When segments of MCA and PCoA from the right side were challenged against 5-HT, a significantly increased response was found only at the first 3 doses. The NE content of pools made of MCA, PCoA and anterior cerebral artery from each side was reduced to the same level on both sides after ganglion removal. The excised superior cervical ganglion apparently innervated the MCA and PCoA from both sides of the circle of Willis.