Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2003
Publication Title
American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that systemic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase does not alter the regulation of sympathetic outflow during head-up tilt in humans, in eight healthy subjects NO synthase was blocked by intravenous infusion of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were recorded in the supine position and during 60° head-up tilt. In the supine position, infusion of L-NMMA increased blood pressure, via increased TPR, and inhibited MSNA. However, the increase in MSNA evoked by head-up tilt during L-NMMA infusion (change in burst rate: 24 ± 4 bursts/min; change in total activity: 209 ± 36 U/min) was similar to that during head-up tilt without L-NMMA (change in burst rate: 23 ± 4 bursts/min; change in total activity: 251 ± 52 U/min, n = 6, all P > 0.05). Moreover, changes in TPR and heart rate during head-up tilt were virtually identical between the two conditions. These results suggest that systemic inhibition of NO synthase with L-NMMA does not affect the regulation of sympathetic outflow and vascular resistance during head-up tilt in humans.
Keywords
Autonomic, Baroreceptors, Microneurography, Nervous system, Orthostatic
Volume
285
Issue
5 54-5
DOI
10.1152/ajpheart.01076.2002
ISSN
03636135
Rights
© 2003 the American Physiological Society
Recommended Citation
Cui, Jian; Zhang, Rong; Wilson, Thad E.; Witkowski, Sarah; Crandall, Craig G.; and Levine, Benjamin D., "Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition Does Not Affect Regulation of Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity During Head-Up Tilt" (2003). Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ess_facpubs/34
Comments
Archived as published.