Effect of Hypothermia-Induced Respiratory Arrest on Cerebral Circulation in Rats.

Intravital microscopy was employed to examine cerebral circulation in rats assessed by blood flow in the venules with diameter of 10-30 μ during immersion hypothermia continued to the moment of respiratory arrest and for 10 min thereafter. Circulation in the cerebral microvessels continued during severe hypothermia, and it went on even after hypothermic respiratory arrest while the heart was beating. In pial venules, the blood continued to fl ow for 8-10 min after respiratory arrest.