The vascular neural network—a new paradigm in stroke pathophysiology

• Published in: Nature reviews. Neurology Vol. 8; no. 12; pp. 711 - 716
• Main Authors: Zhang, John H., Badaut, Jerome, Tang, Jiping, Obenaus, Andre, Hartman, Richard, Pearce, William J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.12.2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/2607; 692/699/375/380/534; Brain - blood supply; Brain - physiopathology; Care and treatment; Cerebral arteries; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Humans; Ischemia; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neural circuitry; Neural networks; Neurology; Neurons; opinion-2; Pathology; Pathophysiology; Physiological aspects; Physiology, Pathological; Smooth muscle; Stroke; Stroke (Disease); Stroke - physiopathology; Veins & arteries; United States

The neurovascular unit is a key concept in stroke medicine that for many years has been defined as the endothelial cells, neurons and glia surrounding cerebral capillaries. In this Perspectives article, the authors expand this concept to encompass more-distant circulation, smooth muscle cells and pe...