Muscle sympathetic nerve responses to graded leg cycling

1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 663-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Saito ◽  
A. Tsukanaka ◽  
D. Yanagihara ◽  
T. Mano
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Leg Cycling ◽  
Exercise Muscle ◽  
The Right

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between sympathetic outflow to skeletal muscle and oxygen uptake during dynamic exercise. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded from the right median nerve microneurographically in eight healthy volunteers during leg cycling at four different intensities in a seated position for a 16-min bout. Work loads selected were 20, 40, 60, and 75% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Heart rate and blood pressure were measured during each exercise test. MSNA burst frequency was suppressed by 28% during cycling at 20% VO2max (23 vs. 33 bursts/min for control). Thereafter, it increased in a linear fashion with increasing work rate, with a significantly higher burst frequency during 60% VO2max than the control value. Both heart rate and mean blood pressure rose significantly during 20% VO2max from the control value and increased linearly with increased exercise intensity. During light exercise, MSNA was suppressed by arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors as a result of the hemodynamic changes associated with leg muscle pumping. The baroreflex inhibition may overcome the muscle metaboreflex excitation to induce MSNA suppression during light exercise. These results suggest that during light exercise MSNA is inhibited, perhaps due to loading of the cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreflexes, and that during heavier exercise the increase in MSNA occurs as muscle metaboreflexes are activated.

scholarly journals Microneurographic characterization of sympathetic responses during 1-leg exercise in young and middle-aged humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine F. Notarius ◽  
Philip J. Millar ◽  
Connor J. Doherty ◽  
Anthony V. Incognito ◽  
Nobuhiko Haruki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Leg Cycling ◽  
Leg Exercise

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest increases with age. However, the influence of age on MSNA recorded during dynamic leg exercise is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that aging attenuates the sympatho-inhibitory response observed in young subjects performing mild to moderate 1-leg cycling. After predetermining peak oxygen uptake, we compared contra-lateral fibular nerve MSNA during 2 min each of mild (unloaded) and moderate (30%–40% of the work rate at peak oxygen uptake, halved for single leg) 1-leg cycling in 18 young (age, 23 ± 1 years (mean ± SE)) and 18 middle-aged (age, 57 ± 2 years) sex-matched healthy subjects. Mean height, weight, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and percent predicted peak oxygen uptake were similar between groups. Middle-aged subjects had higher resting MSNA burst frequency and incidence (P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.04). During moderate 1-leg cycling, older subjects’ systolic blood pressure increased more (+21 ± 5 vs. +10 ± 1 mm Hg; P = 0.02) and their fall in MSNA burst incidence was amplified (−19 ± 2 vs. −11 ± 2 bursts/100 heart beats; P = 0.01) but because heart rate rose less (+15 ± 3 vs. +19 ± 2 bpm; P = 0.03), exercise induced similar reductions in burst frequency (P = 0.25). Contrary to our initial hypothesis, with advancing age, mild- to moderate-intensity dynamic leg exercise elicits a greater rise in systolic blood pressure and a larger fall in MSNA.

Endotoxemia causes central downregulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone in healthy humans

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (3) ◽  
pp. R891-R898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friedhelm Sayk ◽  
Alexander Vietheer ◽  
Bernhard Schaaf ◽  
Peter Wellhoener ◽  
Gunther Weitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Vascular Bed

Experimental endotoxemia as a model of the initial septic response affects the autonomic nervous system with profound cardiovascular sequelae. Whether the postsynaptic sympathoneural activity to the muscle vascular bed is altered in the early septic phase remains to be determined. The present study aimed to elucidate the early effects of LPS on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular regulation in healthy humans. Young, healthy volunteers randomly received either an LPS bolus (4 ng/kg body wt, n = 11) or placebo (saline; n = 7). Experimental baroreflex assessment (baseline measurements followed by infusion of vasoactive drugs nitroprusside/phenylephrine) was done prior to and 90 min following LPS or placebo challenge. MSNA, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood levels of catecholamines, TNF-α and IL-6 were measured sequentially. Endotoxin but not placebo-induced flu-like symptoms and elevated cytokine levels. In contrast to placebo, LPS significantly suppressed MSNA burst frequency 90 min after injection [mean ± SE: 12.1 ± 2.9 vs. 27.5 ± 3.3 burst/min (post- vs. pre-LPS); P < 0.005] but increased heart rate [78.4 ± 3.1 vs. 60.6 ± 2.0 beats/min (post- vs. pre-LPS); P < 0.001]. Baseline blood pressure was not altered, but baroreflex testing demonstrated a blunted MSNA response and uncoupling of heart rate modulation to blood pressure changes in the endotoxin group. We conclude that endotoxin challenge in healthy humans has rapid suppressive effects on postsynaptic sympathetic nerve activity to the muscle vascular bed and alters baroreflex function which may contribute to the untoward cardiovascular effects of sepsis.

Forearm endurance training attenuates sympathetic nerve response to isometric handgrip in normal humans

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1039-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. K. Somers ◽  
K. C. Leo ◽  
R. Shields ◽  
M. Clary ◽  
A. L. Mark
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Endurance Training ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Isometric Exercise ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Isometric Handgrip ◽  
Nerve Response ◽  
The Right ◽  
Muscle Chemoreflex

Recent evidence indicates that muscle ischemia and activation of the muscle chemoreflex are the principal stimuli to sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) during isometric exercise. We postulated that physical training would decrease muscle chemoreflex stimulation during isometric exercise and thereby attenuate the SNA response to exercise. We investigated the effects of 6 wk of unilateral handgrip endurance training on the responses to isometric handgrip (IHG: 33% of maximal voluntary contraction maintained for 2 min). In eight normal subjects the right arm underwent exercise training and the left arm sham training. We measured muscle SNA (peroneal nerve), heart rate, and blood pressure during IHG before vs. after endurance training (right arm) and sham training (left arm). Maximum work to fatigue (an index of training efficacy) was increased by 1,146% in the endurance-trained arm and by only 40% in the sham-trained arm. During isometric exercise of the right arm, SNA increased by 111 +/- 27% (SE) before training and by only 38 +/- 9% after training (P less than 0.05). Endurance training did not significantly affect the heart rate and blood pressure responses to IHG. We also measured the SNA response to 2 min of forearm ischemia after IHG in five subjects. Endurance training also attenuated the SNA response to postexercise forearm ischemia (P = 0.057). Sham training did not significantly affect the SNA responses to IHG or forearm ischemia. We conclude that endurance training decreases muscle chemoreflex stimulation during isometric exercise and thereby attenuates the sympathetic nerve response to IHG.

scholarly journals Disruption of phase synchronization between blood pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity in postural vasovagal syncope

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (8) ◽  
pp. H1238-H1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Schwartz ◽  
Elisabeth Lambert ◽  
Marvin S. Medow ◽  
Julian M. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Phase Synchronization ◽  
Vasovagal Syncope ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Late Stages

Withdrawal of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) may not be necessary for the precipitous fall of peripheral arterial resistance and arterial pressure (AP) during vasovagal syncope (VVS). We tested the hypothesis that the MSNA-AP baroreflex entrainment is disrupted before VVS regardless of MSNA withdrawal using the phase synchronization between blood pressure and MSNA during head-up tilt (HUT) to measure reflex coupling. We studied eight VVS subjects and eight healthy control subjects. Heart rate, AP, and MSNA were measured during supine baseline and at early, mid, late, and syncope stages of HUT. Phase synchronization indexes, measuring time-dependent differences between MSNA and AP phases, were computed. Directionality indexes, indicating the influence of AP on MSNA (neural arc) and MSNA on AP (peripheral arc), were computed. Heart rate was greater in VVS compared with control subjects during early, mid, and late stages of HUT and significantly declined at syncope ( P = 0.04). AP significantly decreased during mid, late, and syncope stages of tilt in VVS subjects only ( P = 0.001). MSNA was not significantly different between groups during HUT ( P = 0.700). However, the phase synchronization index significantly decreased during mid and late stages in VVS subjects but not in control subjects ( P < .001). In addition, the neural arc was significantly affected more than the peripheral arc before syncope. In conclusion, VVS is accompanied by a loss of the synchronous AP-MSNA relationship with or without a loss in MSNA at faint. This provides insight into the mechanisms behind the loss of vasoconstriction and drop in AP independent of MSNA at the time of vasovagal faint.

Abstract 529: Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity is Higher in Winter than Other Seasons

Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Cui ◽  
Matthew D Muller ◽  
Allen R Kunselman ◽  
Cheryl Blaha ◽  
Lawrence I Sinoway
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Significant Difference

Epidemiological data suggest that blood pressure tends to be higher in winter and lower in summer, particularly in the elderly. Moreover, hospitalization and mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease have higher rates in winter than summer. Whether autonomic adjustment including muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) varies with season is unclear. To test the hypothesis that resting MSNA varies along the seasons, we retrospectively analyzed the supine baseline (6 min) MSNA and heart rate (from ECG) of 57 healthy subjects (33M, 24F, 29 ± 1 yrs, range 22-64 yrs) from studies in our laboratory (room temperature ~23 °C). Each of these subjects from central Pennsylvania was studied during 2 or more seasons (total 231 visits). A linear-mixed effects model, which is an extension of the analysis of variance model accounting for repeated measurements (i.e. season) per subject, was used to assess the association of season with the cardiovascular outcomes. The Tukey-Kramer procedure was used to account for multiple comparisons testing between the seasons. MSNA burst rate in winter (21.3 ± 1.0 burst/min) was significantly greater than in summer (13.7 ± 1.0 burst/min, P < 0.001), spring (17.5 ± 1.6 burst/min, P = 0.04) and fall (17.0 ± 1.2 burst/min, P < 0.002). There was no significant difference in MSNA in other comparisons (spring vs. summer, P = 0.12; spring vs. fall, P = 0.99; summer vs. fall, P = 0.054). Heart rate (63.6 ± 1.1 vs. 60.8 ± 1.2 beats/min, P = 0.048) was significantly greater in winter compared to summer. Blood pressure (automated sphygmomanometry of the brachial artery) was not significantly different between seasons. The results suggest that baseline sympathetic nerve activity varies along the seasons, with peak levels evident in winter. We speculate that the seasonal MSNA variation may contribute to seasonal variations in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Pet CO2 inversely affects MSNA response to orthostatic stress

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (3) ◽  
pp. H1040-H1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kevin Shoemaker ◽  
Debbie D. O'Leary ◽  
Richard L. Hughson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Orthostatic Intolerance ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Peripheral Resistance ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Head Up Tilt ◽  
End Tidal ◽  
Combined Data

Arterial hypocapnia has been associated with orthostatic intolerance. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that hypocapnia may be detrimental to increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) during head-up tilt (HUT). Ventilation was increased ∼1.5 times above baseline for each of three conditions, whereas end-tidal Pco 2 (Pet CO2 ) was clamped at normocapnic (Normo), hypercapnic (Hyper; +5 mmHg relative to Normo), and hypocapnic (Hypo; −5 mmHg relative to Normo) conditions. MSNA (microneurography), heart rate, blood pressure (BP, Finapres), and cardiac output (Q, Doppler) were measured continuously during supine rest and 45° HUT. The increase in heart rate when changing from supine to HUT ( P < 0.001) was not different across Pet CO2 conditions. MSNA burst frequency increased similarly with HUT in all conditions ( P < 0.05). However, total MSNA and the increase in total amplitude relative to baseline (%ΔMSNA) increased more when changing to HUT during Hypo compared with Hyper ( P < 0.05). Both BP and Q were higher during Hyper than both Normo and Hypo (main effect; P < 0.05). Therefore, the MSNA response to HUT varied inversely with levels of Pet CO2 . The combined data suggest that augmented cardiac output with hypercapnia sustained blood pressure during HUT leading to a diminished sympathetic response.

scholarly journals Influence of Sex and Age on Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity of Healthy Normotensive Adults

Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 997-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Keir ◽  
Mark B. Badrov ◽  
George Tomlinson ◽  
Catherine F. Notarius ◽  
Derek S. Kimmerly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Systematic Change ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Age Related

As with blood pressure, age-related changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) may differ nonlinearly between sexes. Data acquired from 398 male (age: 39±17; range: 18–78 years [mean±SD]) and 260 female (age: 37±18; range: 18–81 years) normotensive healthy nonmedicated volunteers were analyzed using linear regression models with resting MSNA burst frequency as the outcome and the predictors sex, age, MSNA, blood pressure, and body mass index modelled with natural cubic splines. Age and body mass index contributed 41% and 11%, respectively, of MSNA variance in females and 23% and 1% in males. Overall, changes in MSNA with age were sigmoidal. At age 20, mean MSNA of males and females were similar, then diverged significantly, reaching in women a nadir at age 30. After 30, MSNA increased nonlinearly in both sexes. Both MSNA discharge and blood pressure were lower in females until age 50 (17±9 versus 25±10 bursts·min −1 ; P <1×10 −19 ; 106±11/66±8 versus 116±7/68±9 mm Hg; P <0.01) but converged thereafter (38±11 versus 35±12 bursts·min −1 ; P =0.17; 119±15/71±13 versus 120±13/72±9 mm Hg; P >0.56). Compared with age 30, MSNA burst frequency at age 70 was 57% higher in males but 3-fold greater in females; corresponding increases in systolic blood pressure were 1 (95% CI, −4 to 5) and 12 (95% CI, 6–16) mm Hg. Except for concordance in females beyond age 40, there was no systematic change with age in any resting MSNA-blood pressure relationship. In normotensive adults, MSNA increases after age 30, with ascendance steeper in women.

Differential sympathetic nerve and heart rate spectral effects of nonhypotensive lower body negative pressure

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (2) ◽  
pp. R468-R475 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Floras ◽  
Gary C. Butler ◽  
Shin-Ichi Ando ◽  
Steven C. Brooks ◽  
Michael J. Pollard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Stroke Volume ◽  
Negative Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Lower Body Negative Pressure ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Harmonic Component ◽  
Lower Body

Lower body negative pressure (LBNP; −5 and −15 mmHg) was applied to 14 men (mean age 44 yr) to test the hypothesis that reductions in preload without effect on stroke volume or blood pressure increase selectively muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), but not the ratio of low- to high-frequency harmonic component of spectral power (PL/PH), a coarse-graining power spectral estimate of sympathetic heart rate (HR) modulation. LBNP at −5 mmHg lowered central venous pressure and had no effect on stroke volume (Doppler) or systolic blood pressure but reduced vagal HR modulation. This latter finding, a manifestation of arterial baroreceptor unloading, refutes the concept that low levels of LBNP interrogate, selectively, cardiopulmonary reflexes. MSNA increased, whereas PL/PH and HR were unchanged. This discordance is consistent with selectivity of efferent sympathetic responses to nonhypotensive LBNP and with unloading of tonically active sympathoexcitatory atrial reflexes in some subjects. Hypotensive LBNP (−15 mmHg) increased MSNA and PL/PH, but there was no correlation between these changes within subjects. Therefore, HR variability has limited utility as an estimate of the magnitude of orthostatic changes in sympathetic discharge to muscle.

Sympathetic and vascular responses to head-down neck flexion in humans

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (4) ◽  
pp. H1780-H1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Shortt ◽  
C. A. Ray
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Systolic Arterial Pressure ◽  
Neck Flexion ◽  
Thoracic Impedance ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Vascular Responses ◽  
Vestibulosympathetic Reflexes

Animal studies have demonstrated increases in sympathetic nerve outflow with vestibular stimulation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether vestibulosympathetic reflexes are engaged in humans. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), heart rate, arterial pressure, calf blood flow (CBF), and calculated calf vascular resistance (CVR; mean arterial pressure/CBF) were determined during 10 min of baseline (laying prone with chin supported) and 10 min of head-down neck flexion (HDNF). MSNA responses were measured in nine subjects, and calf vascular responses were determined in seven of these subjects. Heart rate increased during the first minute of HDNF (71 +/- 2 to 76 +/- 3 beats/min; P < 0.05) and remained slightly elevated (71 +/- 2 to 74 +/- 3 beats/min; P < 0.05) for the duration of HDNF. Diastolic and mean arterial pressures also increased slightly with HDNF (80 +/- 3 to 82 +/- 3 and 96 +/- 3 to 98 +/- 3 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). Systolic arterial pressure did not change significantly during HDNF. CBF decreased 14% (4.63 +/- 0.78 to 3.97 +/- 0.60 ml x min(-1) x 100 ml(-1); P < 0.05), and CVR increased 12% (24.0 +/- 4.3 to 27.4 +/- 4.7 units; P < 0.05) during HDNF. These changes corresponded with significant increases in MSNA during HDNF. MSNA, expressed as burst frequency, increased from 14 +/- 2 to 20 +/- 2 bursts/min (P < 0.05) and increased 63 +/- 23% (P < 0.05) when expressed as the percent change in total activity. All variables returned to baseline during recovery. Thoracic impedance measured in five subjects did not change during HDNF (19.6 +/- 1.2 to 19.7 +/- 1.5 omega), suggesting no major change in central blood volume. The results indicate that HDNF elicits increases in CVR that are mediated by the augmentation of MSNA. Arterial pressure responses and thoracic impedance data suggest that high and low pressure baroreflexes were not the mechanism for sympathetic activation. The immediate increase in MSNA with HDNF suggests a role for vestibulosympathetic reflexes.

Naloxone does not affect the cardiovascular and sympathetic adjustments to static exercise in humans

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Ray ◽  
J. A. Pawelczyk
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Static Exercise ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Endogenous Opiates ◽  
Muscle Ischemia

Previous studies suggested that endogenous opiates may attenuate the cardiovascular and sympathetic adjustments to static exercise. We tested whether this effect originates from exercising skeletal muscle. Eight men performed 2 min of static handgrip (30% maximum) followed by 2 min of posthandgrip muscle ischemia after three interventions: 1) control, 2) intra-arterial injection of naloxone HCl (60 micrograms) or vehicle (saline) in the exercising arm, and 3) systemic infusion of naloxone (4 mg) or vehicle. Naloxone and vehicle trials were performed double blind on separate days. Preexercise baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity (burst frequency), heart rate, and blood pressure were similar across interventions on either day. During static handgrip, control, intra-arterial, and systemic administration of vehicle and naloxone elicited similar increases in total muscle sympathetic nerve activity (58 +/- 24 vs. 68 +/- 26, 146 +/- 49 vs. 132 +/- 42, 137 +/- 54 vs. 164 +/- 44%, respectively), heart rate (9 +/- 2 vs. 8 +/- 3, 16 +/- 3 vs. 16 +/- 2, 20 +/- 4 vs. 19 +/- 3 beats/min, respectively), and mean arterial pressure (22 +/- 4 vs. 21 +/- 4, 29 +/- 5 vs. 26 +/- 3, 28 +/- 4 vs. 27 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively). Additionally, there were no differences between vehicle and naloxone trials during posthandgrip muscle ischemia. Thus, contrary to previous reports, we conclude that the endogenous opiate peptide system does not modulate cardiovascular and sympathetic responses to brief periods of static exercise or muscle ischemia in humans.

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