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Simpson LL, Stembridge M, Siebenmann C, Moore JP, Lawley JS. Mechanisms underpinning sympathoexcitation in hypoxia. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38533641 DOI: 10.1113/jp284579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sympathoexcitation is a hallmark of hypoxic exposure, occurring acutely, as well as persisting in acclimatised lowland populations and with generational exposure in highland native populations of the Andean and Tibetan plateaus. The mechanisms mediating altitude sympathoexcitation are multifactorial, involving alterations in both peripheral autonomic reflexes and central neural pathways, and are dependent on the duration of exposure. Initially, hypoxia-induced sympathoexcitation appears to be an adaptive response, primarily mediated by regulatory reflex mechanisms concerned with preserving systemic and cerebral tissue O2 delivery and maintaining arterial blood pressure. However, as exposure continues, sympathoexcitation is further augmented above that observed with acute exposure, despite acclimatisation processes that restore arterial oxygen content (C a O 2 ${C_{{\mathrm{a}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ ). Under these conditions, sympathoexcitation may become maladaptive, giving rise to reduced vascular reactivity and mildly elevated blood pressure. Importantly, current evidence indicates the peripheral chemoreflex does not play a significant role in the augmentation of sympathoexcitation during altitude acclimatisation, although methodological limitations may underestimate its true contribution. Instead, processes that provide no obvious survival benefit in hypoxia appear to contribute, including elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. Nocturnal periodic breathing is also a potential mechanism contributing to altitude sympathoexcitation, although experimental studies are required. Despite recent advancements within the field, several areas remain unexplored, including the mechanisms responsible for the apparent normalisation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during intermediate hypoxic exposures, the mechanisms accounting for persistent sympathoexcitation following descent from altitude and consideration of whether there are sex-based differences in sympathetic regulation at altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Simpson
- Department of Sport Science, Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mike Stembridge
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Jonathan P Moore
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Institute of Applied Human Physiology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Justin S Lawley
- Department of Sport Science, Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy
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Simpson LL, Hansen AB, Moralez G, Amin SB, Hofstaetter F, Gasho C, Stembridge M, Dawkins TG, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Lawley JS, Hearon CM. Adrenergic control of skeletal muscle blood flow during chronic hypoxia in healthy males. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 324:R457-R469. [PMID: 36717165 PMCID: PMC10026988 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00230.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Sympathetic transduction is reduced following chronic high-altitude (HA) exposure; however, vascular α-adrenergic signaling, the primary mechanism mediating sympathetic vasoconstriction at sea level (SL), has not been examined at HA. In nine male lowlanders, we measured forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and calculated changes in vascular conductance (ΔFVC) during 1) incremental intra-arterial infusion of phenylephrine to assess α1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness and 2) combined intra-arterial infusion of β-adrenergic and α-adrenergic antagonists propranolol and phentolamine (α-β-blockade) to assess adrenergic vascular restraint at rest and during exercise-induced sympathoexcitation (cycling; 60% peak power). Experiments were performed near SL (344 m) and after 3 wk at HA (4,383 m). HA abolished the vasoconstrictor response to low-dose phenylephrine (ΔFVC: SL: -34 ± 15%, vs. HA; +3 ± 18%; P < 0.0001) and markedly attenuated the response to medium (ΔFVC: SL: -45 ± 18% vs. HA: -28 ± 11%; P = 0.009) and high (ΔFVC: SL: -47 ± 20%, vs. HA: -35 ± 20%; P = 0.041) doses. Blockade of β-adrenergic receptors alone had no effect on resting FVC (P = 0.500) and combined α-β-blockade induced a similar vasodilatory response at SL and HA (P = 0.580). Forearm vasoconstriction during cycling was not different at SL and HA (P = 0.999). Interestingly, cycling-induced forearm vasoconstriction was attenuated by α-β-blockade at SL (ΔFVC: Control: -27 ± 128 vs. α-β-blockade: +19 ± 23%; P = 0.0004), but unaffected at HA (ΔFVC: Control: -20 ± 22 vs. α-β-blockade: -23 ± 11%; P = 0.999). Our results indicate that in healthy males, altitude acclimatization attenuates α1-adrenergic receptor responsiveness; however, resting α-adrenergic restraint remains intact, due to concurrent resting sympathoexcitation. Furthermore, forearm vasoconstrictor responses to cycling are preserved, although the contribution of adrenergic receptors is diminished, indicating a reliance on alternative vasoconstrictor mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Simpson
- Department of Sport Science, Division of Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander B Hansen
- Department of Sport Science, Division of Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gilbert Moralez
- Department of Applied Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Sachin B Amin
- Department of Sport Science, Division of Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Florian Hofstaetter
- Department of Sport Science, Division of Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christopher Gasho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, United States
| | - Mike Stembridge
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Tony G Dawkins
- Centre of Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael M Tymko
- Centre of Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Philip N Ainslie
- Centre of Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Justin S Lawley
- Department of Sport Science, Division of Performance Physiology and Prevention, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christopher M Hearon
- Department of Applied Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
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Ruggiero L, McNeil CJ. UBC-Nepal Expedition: Motor Unit Characteristics in Lowlanders Acclimatized to High Altitude and Sherpa. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2023; 55:430-439. [PMID: 36730980 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION With acclimatization to high altitude (HA), adaptations occur throughout the nervous system and at the level of the muscle, which may affect motor unit (MU) characteristics. However, despite the importance of MUs as the final common pathway for the control of voluntary movement, little is known about their adaptations with acclimatization. METHODS Ten lowlanders and Sherpa participated in this study 7 to 14 d after arrival at HA (5050 m), with seven lowlanders repeating the experiment at sea level (SL), 6 months after the expedition. The maximal compound muscle action potential (M max ) was recorded from relaxed biceps brachii. During isometric elbow flexions at 10% of maximal torque, a needle electrode recorded the MU discharge rate (MUDR) and MU potential (MUP) characteristics of single biceps brachii MUs. RESULTS Compared with SL, acclimatized lowlanders had ~10% greater MUDR, ~11% longer MUP duration, as well as ~18% lower amplitude and ~6% greater duration of the first phase of the M max (all P < 0.05). No differences were noted between SL and HA for variables related to MUP shape (e.g., jitter, jiggle; P > 0.08). Apart from lower near-fiber MUP area for Sherpa than acclimatized lowlanders ( P < 0.05), no M max or MU data were different between groups ( P > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Like other components of the body, MUs in lowlanders adapt with acclimatization to HA. The absence of differences between acclimatized lowlanders and Sherpa suggests that evolutionary adaptations to HA are smaller for MUs than components of the cardiovascular or respiratory systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris J McNeil
- Integrated Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory, Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, CANADA
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Holwerda SW, Gangwish ME, Luehrs RE, Nuckols VR, Thyfault JP, Miles JM, Pierce GL. Concomitantly higher resting arterial blood pressure and transduction of sympathetic neural activity in human obesity without hypertension. J Hypertens 2023; 41:326-335. [PMID: 36583358 PMCID: PMC9812452 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Central (abdominal) obesity is associated with elevated adrenergic activity and arterial blood pressure (BP). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that transduction of spontaneous muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to BP, that is, sympathetic transduction, is augmented in abdominal obesity (increased waist circumference) and positively related to prevailing BP. METHODS Young/middle-aged obese (32 ± 7 years; BMI: 36 ± 5 kg/m2, n = 14) and nonobese (29 ± 10 years; BMI: 23 ± 4 kg/m2, n = 14) without hypertension (24-h ambulatory average BP < 130/80 mmHg) were included. MSNA (microneurography) and beat-to-beat BP (finger cuff) were measured continuously and the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during 15 cardiac cycles following MSNA bursts of different patterns (single, multiples) and amplitude (quartiles) was signal-averaged over a 10 min baseline period. RESULTS MSNA burst frequency was not significantly higher in obese vs. nonobese (21 ± 3 vs. 17 ± 3 bursts/min, P = 0.34). However, resting supine BP was significantly higher in obese compared with nonobese (systolic: 127 ± 3 vs. 114 ± 3; diastolic: 76 ± 2 vs. 64 ± 1 mmHg, both P < 0.01). Importantly, obese showed greater increases in MAP following multiple MSNA bursts (P = 0.02) and MSNA bursts of higher amplitude (P = 0.02), but not single MSNA bursts (P = 0.24), compared with nonobese when adjusting for MSNA burst frequency. The increase in MAP following higher amplitude bursts among all participants was associated with higher resting supine systolic (R = 0.48; P = 0.01) and diastolic (R = 0.48; P = 0.01) BP when controlling for MSNA burst frequency, but not when also controlling for waist circumference (P > 0.05). In contrast, sympathetic transduction was not correlated with 24-h ambulatory average BP. CONCLUSION Sympathetic transduction to BP is augmented in abdominal obesity and positively related to higher resting supine BP but not 24-h ambulatory average BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth W. Holwerda
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- KU Diabetes Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Megan E. Gangwish
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Rachel E. Luehrs
- Department of Kinesiology, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois
| | - Virginia R. Nuckols
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - John P. Thyfault
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- KU Diabetes Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - John M. Miles
- Department of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Gary L. Pierce
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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Shafer BM, Nardone M, Incognito AV, Vermeulen TD, Teixeira AL, Millar PJ, Sheel AW, West C, Ayas N, Foster GE. Acute hypoxia elicits lasting reductions in the sympathetic action potential transduction of arterial blood pressure in males. J Physiol 2023; 601:669-687. [PMID: 36542455 DOI: 10.1113/jp283979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-hypoxia sympathoexcitation does not elicit corresponding changes in vascular tone, suggesting diminished sympathetic signalling. Blunted sympathetic transduction following acute hypoxia, however, has not been confirmed and the effects of hypoxia on the sympathetic transduction of mean arterial pressure (MAP) as a function of action potential (AP) activity is unknown. We hypothesized that MAP changes would be blunted during acute hypoxia but restored in recovery and asynchronous APs would elicit smaller MAP changes than synchronous APs. Seven healthy males (age: 24 (3) years; BMI: 25 (3) kg/m2 ) underwent 20 min isocapnic hypoxia (PET O2 : 47 (2) mmHg) and 30 min recovery. Multi-unit microneurography (muscle sympathetic nerve activity; MSNA) and continuous wavelet transform with matched mother wavelet was used to detect sympathetic APs during baseline, hypoxia, early (first 7 min) and late (last 7 min) recovery. AP groups were classified as synchronous APs, asynchronous APs (occurring outside an MSNA burst) and no AP activity. Sympathetic transduction of MAP was quantified using signal-averaging, with ΔMAP tracked following AP group cardiac cycles. Following synchronous APs, ΔMAP was reduced in hypoxia (+1.8 (0.9) mmHg) and early recovery (+1.5 (0.7) mmHg) compared with baseline (+3.1 (2.2) mmHg). AP group-by-condition interactions show that at rest asynchronous APs attenuate MAP reductions compared with no AP activity (-0.4 (1.1) vs. -2.2 (1.2) mmHg, respectively), with no difference between AP groups in hypoxia, early or late recovery. Sympathetic transduction of MAP is blunted in hypoxia and early recovery. At rest, asynchronous sympathetic APs contribute to neural regulation of MAP by attenuating nadir pressure responses. KEY POINTS: Acute isocapnic hypoxia elicits lasting sympathoexcitation that does not correspond to parallel changes in vascular tone, suggesting blunted sympathetic transduction. Signal-averaging techniques track the magnitude and temporal cardiovascular responses following integrated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) burst and non-burst cardiac cycles. However, this does not fully characterize the effects of sympathetic action potential (AP) activity on blood pressure control. We show that hypoxia blunts the sympathetic transduction of mean arterial pressure (MAP) following synchronous APs that form integrated MSNA bursts and that sympathetic transduction of MAP remains attenuated into early recovery. At rest, asynchronous APs attenuate the reduction in MAP compared with cardiac cycles following no AP activity, thus asynchronous sympathetic APs appear to contribute to the neural regulation of blood pressure. The results advance our understanding of sympathetic transduction of arterial pressure during and following exposure to acute isocapnic hypoxia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke M Shafer
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Massimo Nardone
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Anthony V Incognito
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Tyler D Vermeulen
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
| | - André L Teixeira
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - Philip J Millar
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - A William Sheel
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Chris West
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Najib Ayas
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Glen E Foster
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada
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Nardone M, Katerberg C, Teixeira AL, Lee JB, Bommarito JC, Millar PJ. Sympathetic transduction of blood pressure during graded lower body negative pressure in young healthy adults. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2022; 322:R620-R628. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00034.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sympathetic transduction of blood pressure (BP) is correlated negatively with resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in cross-sectional data, but the acute effects of increasing MSNA are unclear. Sixteen (4 females) healthy adults (26±3 years) underwent continuous measurement of heart rate, BP, and MSNA at rest and during graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at -10, -20, and -30mmHg. Sympathetic transduction of BP was quantified in the time (signal averaging) and frequency (MSNA-BP gain) domains. The proportion of MSNA bursts firing within each tertile of BP were calculated. As expected, LBNP increased MSNA burst frequency (P<0.01) and burst amplitude (P<0.02), though the proportions of MSNA bursts firing across each BP tertile remained stable (all P>0.44). The MSNA-diastolic BP low frequency transfer function gain (P=0.25) was unchanged during LBNP; the spectral coherence was increased (P=0.03). Signal-averaged sympathetic transduction of diastolic BP was unchanged (from 2.1±1.0 at rest to 2.4±1.5, 2.2±1.3, and 2.3±1.4mmHg; P=0.43) during LBNP, but diastolic BP responses following non-burst cardiac cycles progressively decreased (from -0.8±0.4 at rest to -1.0±0.6, -1.2±0.6, and -1.6±0.9mmHg; P<0.01). As a result, the difference between MSNA burst and non-bursts diastolic BP responses was increased (from 2.9±1.4 at rest to 3.4±1.9, 3.4±1.9, and 3.9±2.1mmHg; P<0.01). In conclusion, acute increases in MSNA using LBNP did not alter traditional signal-averaged or frequency-domain measures of sympathetic transduction of BP or the proportion of MSNA bursts firing at different BP levels. The factors that determine changes in the firing of MSNA bursts relative to oscillations in BP require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Nardone
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carlin Katerberg
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - André L. Teixeira
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan B. Lee
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julian C. Bommarito
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J. Millar
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Holwerda SW. Crossing the intersection of human hypertension and adrenergic vasoconstriction using innovative methods. J Hum Hypertens 2022; 36:1-2. [PMID: 34453102 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-021-00571-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Seth W Holwerda
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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Wearing OH, Nelson D, Ivy CM, Crossley DA, Scott GR. Adrenergic control of the cardiovascular system in deer mice native to high altitude. Curr Res Physiol 2022; 5:83-92. [PMID: 35169714 PMCID: PMC8829085 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of animals native to high altitude can provide valuable insight into physiological mechanisms and evolution of performance in challenging environments. We investigated how mechanisms controlling cardiovascular function may have evolved in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) native to high altitude. High-altitude deer mice and low-altitude white-footed mice (P. leucopus) were bred in captivity at sea level, and first-generation lab progeny were raised to adulthood and acclimated to normoxia or hypoxia. We then used pharmacological agents to examine the capacity for adrenergic receptor stimulation to modulate heart rate (fH) and mean arterial pressure (Pmean) in anaesthetized mice, and used cardiac pressure-volume catheters to evaluate the contractility of the left ventricle. We found that highlanders had a consistently greater capacity to increase fH via pharmacological stimulation of β1-adrenergic receptors than lowlanders. Also, whereas hypoxia acclimation reduced the capacity for increasing Pmean in response to α-adrenergic stimulation in lowlanders, highlanders exhibited no plasticity in this capacity. These differences in highlanders may help augment cardiac output during locomotion or cold stress, and may preserve their capacity for α-mediated vasoconstriction to more effectively redistribute blood flow to active tissues. Highlanders did not exhibit any differences in some measures of cardiac contractility (maximum pressure derivative, dP/dtmax, or end-systolic elastance, Ees), but ejection fraction was highest in highlanders after hypoxia acclimation. Overall, our results suggest that evolved changes in sensitivity to adrenergic stimulation of cardiovascular function may help deer mice cope with the cold and hypoxic conditions at high altitude. High-altitude deer mice have evolved increased aerobic capacity in hypoxia. Cardiovascular regulation was examined in normoxia and chronic hypoxia. Highland mice had increased capacity for β1-adrenergic stimulation of heart rate. Hypoxia reduced vascular α-adrenergic sensitivity in lowland but not highland mice. Cardiac ejection fraction was elevated in highland mice in chronic hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver H. Wearing
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Corresponding author.
| | - Derek Nelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Catherine M. Ivy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Dane A. Crossley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Graham R. Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Campbell CA, Lewis CT, Windsor J. Proceedings of the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society and British Mountain Medicine Society Conference, September 2021. High Alt Med Biol 2021; 23:192-193. [PMID: 34962427 DOI: 10.1089/ham.2021.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeremy Windsor
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, United Kingdom
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Lower sympathetic transduction of blood pressure in uncontrolled hypertensives: physiological adaptation, methodological limitation, or both? J Hum Hypertens 2021; 36:423-424. [PMID: 34795392 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-021-00638-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Foster GE, Shafer BM, Shing C. An open-source application for the standardized burst identification from the integrated muscle sympathetic neurogram. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:1831-1841. [PMID: 34705589 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00397.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) can be acquired from humans using the technique of microneurography. The resulting integrated neurogram displays pulse-synchronous bursts of sympathetic activity, which undergoes processing for standard MSNA metrics including burst frequency, height, area, incidence, total activity, and latency. The procedure for detecting bursts of MSNA and calculating burst metrics is tedious and differs widely among laboratories worldwide. We sought to develop an open-source, cross-platform web application that provides a standardized approach for burst identification and a tool to increase research reproducibility for those measuring MSNA. We compared the performance of this web application against a manual scoring approach under conditions of rest, chemoreflex activation (n = 9, 20-min isocapnic hypoxia), and metaboreflex activation (n = 13, 2-min isometric handgrip exercise and 4-min postexercise circulatory occlusion). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated good to strong agreement between scoring approaches for burst frequency (ICC = 0.92-0.99), incidence (ICC = 0.94-0.99), height (ICC = 0.76-0.88), total activity (ICC = 0.85-0.99), and latency (ICC = 0.97-0.99). Agreement with burst area was poor to moderate (ICC = 0.04-0.67) but changes in burst area were similar with chemoreflex and metaboreflex activation. Scoring using the web application was highly efficient and provided data visualization tools that expedited data processing and the analysis of MSNA. We recommend the open-source web application be adopted by the community for the analysis of MSNA.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The basic analysis of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) requires the identification of pulse-synchronous bursts from the integrated neurogram before standard MSNA metrics can be quantified. This process is a time-consuming task requiring an experienced microneurographer to visually identify and manually label bursts. We developed an open-source, cross-platform application permitting a standardized approach for sympathetic burst identification and present the performance of this application against a manual scorer under basal conditions and during sympathoexcitatory stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen E Foster
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brooke M Shafer
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Conan Shing
- Centre for Heart, Lung, and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
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Steele AR, Skow RJ, Fraser GM, Berthelsen LF, Steinback CD. Sympathetic neurovascular transduction following acute hypoxia. Clin Auton Res 2021; 31:755-765. [PMID: 34528146 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-021-00824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Following an acute exposure to hypoxia, sympathetic nerve activity remains elevated. However, this elevated sympathetic nerve activity does not elicit a parallel increase in vascular resistance suggesting a blunted sympathetic signaling [i.e. blunted sympathetic neurovascular transduction (sNVT)]. Therefore, we sought to quantify spontaneous sympathetic bursts and related changes in total peripheral resistance following hypoxic exposure. We hypothesized that following hypoxia sNVT would be blunted. METHODS Nine healthy participants (n = 6 men; mean age 25 ± 2 years) were recruited. We collected data on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) using microneurography and beat-by-beat total peripheral resistance (TPR) via finger photoplethysmography at baseline, during acute hypoxia and during two periods of recovery (recovery period 1, 0-10 min post hypoxia; recovery period 2, 10-20 min post hypoxia). MSNA burst sequences (i.e. singlets, doublets, triplets and quads+) were identified and coupled to changes in TPR over 15 cardiac cycles as an index of sNVT for burst sequences. A sNVT slope for each participant was calculated from the slope of the relationship between TPR plotted against normalized burst amplitude. RESULTS The sNVT slope was blunted during hypoxia [Δ 0.0044 ± 0.0014 (mmHg/L/min)/(a.u.)], but unchanged following termination of hypoxia [recovery 1, Δ 0.031 ± 0.0019 (mmHg/L/min)/(a.u.); recovery 2, Δ 0.0038 ± 0.0014 (mmHg/L/min)/(a.u.) compared to baseline (Δ 0.038 ± 0.0015 (L/min/mmHg)/(a.u.)] (main effect of group p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis, we have demonstrated that systemic sNVT is unchanged following hypoxia in young healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Steele
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, , University of Alberta, 1-059D Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E1
| | - Rachel J Skow
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, , University of Alberta, 1-059D Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E1
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Graham M Fraser
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Lindsey F Berthelsen
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, , University of Alberta, 1-059D Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E1
| | - Craig D Steinback
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, , University of Alberta, 1-059D Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E1.
- Women and Children's Health Research Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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13
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Holwerda SW. Flattening the sympathetic-vascular transduction curve. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R482-R483. [PMID: 34378407 PMCID: PMC8579908 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00191.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seth W Holwerda
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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14
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Nardone M, Incognito AV, Kathia MM, Omazic LJ, Lee JB, Teixeira AL, Xie S, Vianna LC, Millar PJ. Signal-averaged resting sympathetic transduction of blood pressure: is it time to account for prevailing muscle sympathetic burst frequency? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R484-R494. [PMID: 34287075 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00131.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Calculating the blood pressure (BP) response to a burst of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), termed sympathetic transduction, may be influenced by an individual's resting burst frequency. We examined the relationships between sympathetic transduction and MSNA in 107 healthy males and females and developed a normalized sympathetic transduction metric to incorporate resting MSNA. Burst-triggered signal-averaging was used to calculate the peak diastolic BP response following each MSNA burst (sympathetic transduction of BP) and following incorporation of MSNA burst cluster patterns and amplitudes (sympathetic transduction slope). MSNA burst frequency was negatively correlated with sympathetic transduction of BP (r=-0.42; P<0.01) and the sympathetic transduction slope (r=-0.66; P<0.01), independent of sex. MSNA burst amplitude was unrelated to sympathetic transduction of BP in males (r=0.04; P=0.78), but positively correlated in females (r=0.44; P<0.01) and with the sympathetic transduction slope in all participants (r=0.42; P<0.01). To control for MSNA, the linear regression slope of the log-log relationship between sympathetic transduction and MSNA burst frequency was used as a correction exponent. In sub-analysis of males (38±10 vs. 14±4bursts/min) and females (28±5 vs. 12±4bursts/min) with high vs. low MSNA, sympathetic transduction of BP and sympathetic transduction slope were lower in participants with high MSNA (all P<0.05). In contrast, normalized sympathetic transduction of BP and normalized sympathetic transduction slope were similar in males and females with high vs. low MSNA (all P>0.22). We propose that incorporating MSNA burst frequency into the calculation of sympathetic transduction will allow comparisons between participants with varying levels of resting MSNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Nardone
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony V Incognito
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lucas Joseph Omazic
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan B Lee
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - André L Teixeira
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shengkun Xie
- Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauro C Vianna
- NeuroVASQ - Integrative Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Philip J Millar
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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15
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O'Brien MW, Ramsay DJ, O'Neill CD, Petterson JL, Dogra S, Mekary S, Kimmerly DS. Aerobic fitness is inversely associated with neurohemodynamic transduction and blood pressure variability in older adults. GeroScience 2021; 43:2737-2748. [PMID: 34056679 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher aerobic fitness is independently associated with better cardiovascular health in older adults. The transduction of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) into mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses provides important insight regarding beat-by-beat neural circulatory control. Aerobic fitness is negatively associated with peak MAP responses to spontaneous MSNA in young males. Whether this relationship exists in older adults is known. We tested the hypothesis that aerobic fitness was inversely related to sympathetic neurohemodynamic transduction and blood pressure variability (BPV) in older adults. Relative peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak, indirect calorimetry) was assessed in 22 older adults (13 males, 65 ± 5 years, 36.3 ± 11.5 ml/kg/min). Peroneal MSNA (microneurography) and arterial pressure (finger photoplethysmography) were recorded during ≥ 10-min of rest. BPV was assessed using the average real variability index. MAP was tracked for 12 cardiac cycles following heartbeats associated with MSNA bursts (i.e., peak ΔMAP). Peak ΔMAP responses (0.9 ± 0.6 mmHg) were negatively associated (all, P < 0.04) with resting burst frequency (30 ± 11 bursts/min; R = -0.47) and burst incidence (54 ± 22 bursts/100 heartbeats; R = -0.51), but positively associated with BPV (ρ = 0.47). V̇O2peak was inversely related to the pressor responses to spontaneous bursts (R = -0.47, P = 0.03) and BPV (ρ = -0.54, P = 0.01), positively related to burst incidence (R = 0.42, P = 0.05), but unrelated to MSNA burst frequency (P = 0.20). The V̇O2peak-BPV relationship remained after controlling for burst frequency, peak ΔMAP, age, and sex. Lower V̇O2peak was associated with augmented neurohemodynamic transduction and BPV in older adults. These negative hemodynamic outcomes highlight the importance of higher aerobic fitness with ageing for optimal cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myles W O'Brien
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Diane J Ramsay
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Carley D O'Neill
- Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Lab, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Petterson
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Shilpa Dogra
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada.,Health and Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Said Mekary
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
| | - Derek S Kimmerly
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 6230 South Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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16
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Tymko MM, Berthelsen LF, Skow RJ, Steele AR, Fraser GM, Steinback CD. Assessing static and dynamic sympathetic transduction using microneurography. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2021; 130:1626-1634. [PMID: 33792401 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00032.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between sympathetic nerve activity and the vasculature has been of great interest due to its potential role in various cardiovascular-related diseases. This relationship, termed "sympathetic transduction," has been quantified using several different laboratory and analytical techniques. The most common method is to assess the association between relative changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity, measured via microneurography, and physiological outcomes (e.g., blood pressure, total peripheral resistance, blood flow, etc.) in response to a sympathetic stressor (e.g., exercise, cold stress, orthostatic stress). This approach, however, comes with its own caveats. For instance, elevations in blood pressure and heart rate during a sympathetic stressor can have an independent impact on muscle sympathetic nerve activity. Another assessment of sympathetic transduction was developed by Wallin and Nerhed in 1982, where alterations in blood pressure and heart rate were assessed immediately following bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity at rest. This approach has since been characterized and further innovated by others, including the breakdown of consecutive burst sequences (e.g., singlet, doublet, triplet, and quadruplet), and burst height (quartile analysis) on specific vascular outcomes (e.g., blood pressure, blood flow, vascular resistance). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature that has assessed sympathetic transduction using microneurography and various sympathetic stressors (static sympathetic transduction) and using the same or similar approach established by Wallin and Nerhed at rest (dynamic neurovascular transduction). Herein, we discuss the overlapping literature between these two methodologies and highlight the key physiological questions that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Tymko
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lindsey F Berthelsen
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rachel J Skow
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrew R Steele
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Graham M Fraser
- The Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Craig D Steinback
- Neurovascular Health Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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17
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O'Brien MW, Petterson JL, Kimmerly DS. An open-source program to analyze spontaneous sympathetic neurohemodynamic transduction. J Neurophysiol 2021; 125:972-976. [PMID: 33596745 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00002.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The sympathetic nervous system is important for the beat-by-beat regulation of arterial blood pressure and the control of blood flow to various organs. Microneurographic recordings of pulse-synchronous muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) are used by numerous laboratories worldwide. The transduction of hemodynamic and vascular responses elicited by spontaneous bursts of MSNA provides novel, mechanistic insight into sympathetic neural control of the circulation. Although some of these laboratories have developed in-house software programs to analyze these sympathetic transduction responses, they are not openly available and most require higher level programming skills and/or costly platforms. In the present paper, we present an open-source, Microsoft Excel-based analysis program designed to examine the pressor and/or vascular responses to spontaneous resting bursts of MSNA, including across longer, continuous MSNA burst sequences, as well as following heartbeats not associated with MSNA bursts. An Excel template with embedded formulas is provided. Detailed written and video-recorded instructions are provided to help facilitate the user and promote its implementation among the research community. Open science activities such as the dissemination of analytical programs and instructions may assist other laboratories in their pursuit to answer novel and impactful research questions regarding sympathetic neural control strategies in human health and disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The pressor responses to spontaneous bursts of muscle sympathetic nerve activity provide important information regarding sympathetic regulation of the circulation. Many laboratories worldwide quantify sympathetic neurohemodynamic transduction using in-house, customized software requiring high-level programming skills and/or costly computer programs. To overcome these barriers, this study presents a simple, open-source, Microsoft Excel-based analysis program along with video instructions to assist researchers without the necessary resources to quantify sympathetic neurohemodynamic transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myles W O'Brien
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Petterson
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Derek S Kimmerly
- Autonomic Cardiovascular Control and Exercise Laboratory, Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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18
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Steele AR, Berthelsen LF, Fraser GM, Phillips DB, Fuhr DP, Wong EYL, Stickland MK, Steinback CD. Blunted sympathetic neurovascular transduction is associated to the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Clin Auton Res 2021; 31:443-451. [DOI: 10.1007/s10286-021-00784-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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19
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Young BE, Greaney JL, Keller DM, Fadel PJ. Sympathetic transduction in humans: recent advances and methodological considerations. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 320:H942-H953. [PMID: 33416453 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00926.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ever since their origin more than one half-century ago, microneurographic recordings of sympathetic nerve activity have significantly advanced our understanding of the generation and regulation of central sympathetic outflow in human health and disease. For example, it is now appreciated that a myriad of disease states exhibit chronic sympathetic overactivity, a significant predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although microneurographic recordings allow for the direct quantification of sympathetic outflow, they alone do not provide information with respect to the ensuing sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction and blood pressure (BP) response. Therefore, the study of vascular and/or BP responses to sympathetic outflow (i.e., sympathetic transduction) has now emerged as an area of growing interest within the field of neural cardiovascular control in human health and disease. To date, studies have primarily examined sympathetic transduction under two distinct paradigms: when reflexively evoking sympatho-excitation through the induction of a laboratory stressor (i.e., sympathetic transduction during stress) and/or following spontaneous bursts of sympathetic outflow occurring under resting conditions (i.e., sympathetic transduction at rest). The purpose of this brief review is to highlight how our physiological understanding of sympathetic transduction has been advanced by these studies and to evaluate the primary analytical techniques developed to study sympathetic transduction in humans. We also discuss the framework by which the assessment of sympathetic transduction during stress reflects a fundamentally different process relative to sympathetic transduction at rest and why findings from investigations using these different techniques should be interpreted as such and not necessarily be considered one and the same.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E Young
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
| | - Jody L Greaney
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
| | - David M Keller
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
| | - Paul J Fadel
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
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20
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Simpson LL, Steinback CD, Stembridge M, Moore JP. A sympathetic view of blood pressure control at high altitude: new insights from microneurographic studies. Exp Physiol 2020; 106:377-384. [PMID: 33345334 PMCID: PMC7898382 DOI: 10.1113/ep089194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the topic of the review? Sympathoexcitation and sympathetic control of blood pressure at high altitude. What advances does it highlight? Sustained sympathoexcitation is fundamental to integrative control of blood pressure in humans exposed to chronic hypoxia. The largest gaps in current knowledge are in understanding the complex mechanisms by which central sympathetic outflow is regulated at high altitude. ABSTRACT High altitude (HA) hypoxia is a potent activator of the sympathetic nervous system, eliciting increases in sympathetic vasomotor activity. Microneurographic evidence of HA sympathoexcitation dates back to the late 20th century, yet only recently have the characteristics and underpinning mechanisms been explored in detail. This review summarises recent findings and highlights the importance of HA sympathoexcitation for the regulation of blood pressure in lowlanders and indigenous highlanders. In addition, this review identifies gaps in our knowledge and corresponding avenues for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Simpson
- Institute for Sport Science, Division of Physiology, Innsbruck University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Craig D Steinback
- Neurovascular Health Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Mike Stembridge
- Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jonathan P Moore
- Extremes Research Group, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
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