Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2004
Publication Title
Circulation
Abstract
Background—We tested the hypothesis that individual variability in orthostatic tolerance is dependent on the degree of neural and vasomotor reserve available for vasoconstriction.
Methods and Results—Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and hemodynamics were measured in 12 healthy young volunteers during 60° head-up tilt (HUT), followed by a cold pressor test (CPT) in HUT. Orthostatic tolerance was determined by progressive lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) to presyncope. The same protocols were performed randomly in normovolemic and hypovolemic conditions. We found that mean arterial pressure increased and stroke volume decreased, whereas heart rate (HR), MSNA, and total peripheral resistance (TPR) increased during HUT (all P 0.01). Application of the CPT in HUT did not increase HR or decrease stroke volume further but elevated mean arterial pressure (P 0.01) and increased MSNA and TPR in some subjects. There was a positive correlation between the time to presyncope from 50 mm Hg LBNP (equivalent to 60° HUT alone) and the changes in MSNA produced by the CPT under both conditions (r 0.442, P 0.039). Those who had greater increases in MSNA had greater increases in TPR during the CPT and longer time to presyncope (both P 0.05). One subject had dramatic increases in MSNA but small increases in TPR during the CPT, which indicates a disassociation between sympathetic activity and the increase in peripheral vascular resistance.
Conclusions—These results support our hypothesis and suggest that vasoconstrictor capability is a contributor to orthostatic tolerance in humans. Vasoconstrictor reserve therefore may be one mechanism underlying individual variability in orthostatic intolerance.
Keywords
vasoconstriction, sympathetic nervous system, blood pressure
Volume
110
First Page
2931
Last Page
2937
DOI
10.1161/01.CIR.0000146384.91715.B5
Rights
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Fu, Qi; Witkowski, Sarah; and Levine, Benjamin D., "Vasoconstrictor Reserve and Sympathetic Neural Control of Orthostasis" (2004). Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ess_facpubs/39
Comments
Archived as published. Open access.