The effects of sympathetic stimulation on the cerebral circulation in cats are in dispute. One unexplained observation is that sympathetic nerve stimulation constricts pial arteries but does not decrease cerebral blood flow (CBF). To reconcile these findings, we studied effects of sympathetic nerves on cerebral vessels using a new method that permits virtually continuous measurement of pial artery diameter and blood flow velocity, and calculation of change in CBF. Change in CBF was calculated as the product of cross-sectional area (CSA) and blood flow velocity in a large pial artery. Pial artery diameter was measured with the cranial window method and CSA was calculated (pi r2). Blood flow velocity was measured with a pulsed Doppler velocity meter. In 11 cats, CBF was measured duringg the control period and during electrical stimulation of sympathetic nerves. During stimulation, arterial diameter decreased 6 +/- 1%, but CBF did not change because velocity increased 19 +/- 5%. We also measured CBF with microspheres during control and after 60 s of sympathetic stimulation. Cerebral blood flow was 28 +/- 3 ml/min/100 g during control and 26 +/- 3 ml/min/100 g after 60 s of sympathetic stimulation (n = 5). It is likely that the increase in velocity durin sympathetic stimulation was due to compensatory dilatation of downstream arteries.