Cerebral autoregulation system (CA)

The cerebral autoregulation system consists of integrated processes—primarily myogenic, metabolic, neurogenic, and endothelial mechanisms—that enable cerebral arteries and arterioles to contract or dilate, maintaining stable cerebral blood flow across a wide range of systemic blood pressures. This is crucial to meet the brain's metabolic demands and prevent injury from under- or overperfusion. The system’s failure or impairment is associated with several neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Cerebral autoregulation is not a single molecular entity but rather a dynamic interplay of vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, neural inputs, and local metabolites, with limits that are patient-specific and affected by numerous physiological and pathological factors[1][2][3][4]. This entry is not consistent with standard molecular targets such as receptors, enzymes, or ion channels. The term refers to a global system/physiological process, not a uniquely identifiable molecule suitable for targeted drug discovery or structured molecular pharmacology databases.

Other names

Cerebral autoregulationbrain blood flow autoregulationpressure autoregulationCAAR

Modulation of vascular smooth muscle tone; Endothelial nitric oxide production alteration; Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system modulation; Changes in local metabolic activity (e.g., CO₂, O₂, pH).