OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the temporal changes in cerebral blood flow( CBF) upon superior sagittal sinus( SSS) occlusion in a novel rat model. METHODS: A gelatin sponge was inserted into the SSS to obtain immediate and complete SSS occlusion. A laser speckle flowmetry (LSF) was employed to monitor the CBF of the parasagittal cortex for 100 minutes post-procedure, and on days 1-3 after occlusion. Regions of interests for CBF were placed in an area between the two occluded bridging veins( 2VOA), or an area adjacent to only one occluded bridging vein( 1VOA). Histopathological evaluation was performed 3 days following SSS occlusion. RESULT: The CBF in the parasagittal cortices following the SSS occlusion acutely decreased to approximately 70% and 80% in the 2VOA and 1VOA compared to the pre-occlusion levels, respectively. Development of collateral anastomosis between the bridging veins was observed by 60 minutes following occlusion, and CBF recovered on day 1. Pathologically, edematous changes were more evident in the 2VOA than the 1VOA. Conclusions: CBF reduction in the parasagittal cortices depended on the severity of adjacent venous occlusion. Development of collateral venous anastomosis seemed to contribute for the CBF recovery.
Hamasaki et al. (Mon,) studied this question.