Role of Opioids in the Physiologic and Pathophysiologic Control of the Cerebral Circulation 1

Abstract

The cerebral circulation is regulated by chemical stimuli, metabolic factors, perfusion pressure, and nerves. A previous review focused on local humoral control of a paracine-autocrine nature and on selected novel (vasopressinergic, opioid) and classical (sympathetic, cholinergic) neural-humoral stimuli for the control of the cerebral circulation (1). The present review will serve as a follow-up to the previous article and will focus on the role of opioids in the physiologic and pathophysiologic control of the cerebral circulation.