The cerebral circulation during pregnancy: adapting to preserve normalcy

Physiology (Bethesda). 2015 Mar;30(2):139-47. doi: 10.1152/physiol.00048.2014.

Abstract

The adaptation of the brain and cerebral circulation to pregnancy are unique compared with other organs and circulatory systems, ultimately functioning to maintain brain homeostasis. In this review, the effect of pregnancy on critical functions of the cerebral circulation is discussed, including changes occurring at the endothelium and blood-brain barrier, and changes in the structure and function of cerebral arteries and arterioles, hemodynamics, and cerebral blood flow autoregulation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arterioles / metabolism
  • Arterioles / physiology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Cerebral Arteries / metabolism
  • Cerebral Arteries / physiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics*
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Signal Transduction