Neurovascular coupling is preserved in the cerebral cortex of diabetic mice: A longitudinal study

Neurovascular coupling (NVC), which mediates transient increases in blood flow to increased neuronal activity, is markedly reduced in the retinas of diabetic patients and in animal models of diabetes. It is unclear, however, whether NVC is similarly reduced in the diabetic brain, as previous studies have yielded conflicting results. We investigated this question by simultaneously monitoring the responses of neurons and adjacent penetrating arterioles to whisker stimulation in the Akita mouse model of type 1 diabetes. We found that NVC, as quantified by two independent analytical techniques, remained constant in Akita mice as diabetes progressed and did not differ from aged-matched control mice. Although NVC, as measured by peak vascular dilation, remained constant, the dilation was more prolonged in 27–33 compared to 11–20 weeks of age (WOA) Akita mice, leading to an enhancement of the blood flow increase. NVC remained constant in control mice between age groups and the basal diameter of penetrating arterioles in both control and Akita mice did not vary between 11 and 33 WOA.