Dually supplied T-junctions in arteriolo-arteriolar anastomosis in mice: key to local hemodynamic homeostasis in normal and ischemic states?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The functional role of arteriolo-arteriolar anastomosis (AAA) between the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery in local hemodynamics is unknown, and was investigated here. METHODS Blood flow in AAAs was examined using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled red blood cells (RBCs) as a flow indicator in 16 anesthetized C57BL/6J mice before and after MCA occlusion up to 7 experimental days. RESULTS We observed paradoxical flow in AAAs; labeled RBCs entered from both the MCA and anterior cerebral artery sides and the opposing flows met at a branching T-junction, where the flows combined and passed into a penetrating arteriole. The dually fed T-junction was not fixed in position, but functionally jumped to adjacent T-junctions in response to changing hemodynamic conditions. On MCA occlusion, RBC flow from the MCA side immediately stopped. After a period of "hesitation," blood started to move retrogradely in one of the MCA branches toward the MCA stem. The retrograde blood flow was statistically significantly (P<0.05), serving to feed blood to other MCA branches after a lag period. In capillaries, MCA occlusion induced immediate RBC disappearance in the ischemic core and to a lesser extent in the marginal zone near AAAs. At day 3 after ischemia, we recognized the beginning of remodeling with angiogenesis centering on AAAs. CONCLUSIONS AAAs appear to play a key role in local hemodynamic homeostasis, both in the normal state and in the development of collateral channels and revascularization during ischemia.