A restrospective perspective

2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 762-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gamble

Venous occlusion plethysmography is a simple but elegant technique that has contributed to almost every major area of vascular biology in humans. The general principles of plethysmography were appreciated by the late 1800s, and the application of these principles to measure limb blood flow occurred in the early 1900s. Plethysmography has been instrumental in studying the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating limb blood flow in humans and important in studying the vasodilator responses to exercise, reactive hyperemia, body heating, and mental stress. It has also been the technique of choice to study how human blood vessels respond to a variety of exogenously administered vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, especially those that act on various autonomic and adrenergic receptors. In recent years, plethysmography has been exploited to study the role of the vascular endothelium in health and disease. Venous occlusion plethysmography is likely to continue to play an important role as investigators seek to understand the physiological significance of newly identified vasoactive factors and how genetic polymorphisms affect the cardiovascular system in humans.

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 2431-2441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Joyner ◽  
Niki M. Dietz ◽  
John T. Shepherd

Venous occlusion plethysmography is a simple but elegant technique that has contributed to almost every major area of vascular biology in humans. The general principles of plethysmography were appreciated by the late 1800s, and the application of these principles to measure limb blood flow occurred in the early 1900s. Plethysmography has been instrumental in studying the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating limb blood flow in humans and important in studying the vasodilator responses to exercise, reactive hyperemia, body heating, and mental stress. It has also been the technique of choice to study how human blood vessels respond to a variety of exogenously administered vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, especially those that act on various autonomic and adrenergic receptors. In recent years, plethysmography has been exploited to study the role of the vascular endothelium in health and disease. Venous occlusion plethysmography is likely to continue to play an important role as investigators seek to understand the physiological significance of newly identified vasoactive factors and how genetic polymorphisms affect the cardiovascular system in humans.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. H711-H718 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Omar Farouque ◽  
Ian T. Meredith

The extent to which ATP-sensitive K+ channels contribute to reactive hyperemia in humans is unresolved. We examined the role of ATP-sensitive K+channels in regulating reactive hyperemia induced by 5 min of forearm ischemia. Thirty-one healthy subjects had forearm blood flow measured with venous occlusion plethysmography. Reactive hyperemia could be reproducibly induced ( n = 9). The contribution of vascular ATP-sensitive K+ channels to reactive hyperemia was determined by measuring forearm blood flow before and during brachial artery infusion of glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor ( n = 12). To document ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibition with glibenclamide, coinfusion with diazoxide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, was undertaken ( n = 10). Glibenclamide did not significantly alter resting forearm blood flow or the initial and sustained phases of reactive hyperemia. However, glibenclamide attenuated the hyperemic response induced by diazoxide. These data suggest that ATP-sensitive K+ channels do not play an important role in controlling forearm reactive hyperemia and that other mechanisms are active in this adaptive response.


1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1418-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Proctor ◽  
J. R. Halliwill ◽  
P. H. Shen ◽  
N. E. Vlahakis ◽  
M. J. Joyner

Estimates of calf blood flow with venous occlusion plethysmography vary widely between studies, perhaps due to the use of different plethysmographs. Consequently, we compared calf blood flow estimates at rest and during reactive hyperemia in eight healthy subjects (four men and four women) with two commonly used plethysmographs: the mercury-in-silastic (Whitney) strain gauge and Dohn air-filled cuff. To minimize technical variability, flow estimates were compared with a Whitney gauge and a Dohn cuff on opposite calves before and after 10 min of bilateral femoral arterial occlusion. To account for any differences between limbs, a second trial was conducted in which the plethysmographs were switched. Resting flows did not differ between the plethysmographs (P = 0.096), but a trend toward lower values with the Whitney was apparent. Peak flows averaged 37% lower with the Whitney (27.8 +/- 2.8 ml.dl-1.min-1) than with the Dohn plethysmograph (44.4 +/- 2.8 ml.dl-1.min-1; P < 0.05). Peak flow expressed as a multiple above baseline was also lower with the Whitney (10-fold) than with the Dohn plethysmograph (14.5-fold; P = 0.02). Across all flows at rest and during reactive hyperemia, estimates were highly correlated between the plethysmographs in all subjects (r2 = 0.96-0.99). However, the mean slope for the Whitney-Dohn relationship was only 60 +/- 2%, indicating that over a wide range of flows the Whitney gauge estimate was 40% lower than that for the Dohn cuff. These results demonstrate that the same qualitative results can be obtained with either plethysmograph but that absolute flow values will generally be lower with Whitney gauges.


1987 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 606-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Snell ◽  
W. H. Martin ◽  
J. C. Buckey ◽  
C. G. Blomqvist

Lower leg blood flow and vascular conductance were studied and related to maximal oxygen uptake in 15 sedentary men (28.5 +/- 1.2 yr, mean +/- SE) and 11 endurance-trained men (30.5 +/- 2.0 yr). Blood flows were obtained at rest and during reactive hyperemia produced by ischemic exercise to fatigue. Vascular conductance was computed from blood flow measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, and mean arterial blood pressure was determined by auscultation of the brachial artery. Resting blood flow and mean arterial pressure were similar in both groups (combined mean, 3.0 ml X min-1 X 100 ml-1 and 88.2 mmHg). After ischemic exercise, blood flows were 29- and 19-fold higher (P less than 0.001) than rest in trained (83.3 +/- 3.8 ml X min-1 X 100 ml-1) and sedentary subjects (61.5 +/- 2.3 ml X min-1 X 100 ml-1), respectively. Blood pressure and heart rate were only slightly elevated in both groups. Maximal vascular conductance was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in the trained compared with the sedentary subjects. The correlation coefficients for maximal oxygen uptake vs. vascular conductance were 0.81 (trained) and 0.45 (sedentary). These data suggest that physical training increases the capacity for vasodilation in active limbs and also enables the trained individual to utilize a larger fraction of maximal vascular conductance than the sedentary subject.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (4) ◽  
pp. G487-G493 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Sawmiller ◽  
C. C. Chou

The role of adenosine in postprandial jejunal hyperemia was investigated by determining the effect of placement of predigested food into the jejunal lumen on blood flow and oxygen consumption before and during intra-arterial infusion of dipyridamole (1.5 microM arterial concn) or adenosine deaminase (9 U/ml arterial concn) in anesthetized dogs. Neither drug significantly altered resting jejunal blood flow and oxygen consumption. Before dipyridamole or deaminase, food placement increased blood flow by 30-36%, 26-42%, and 21-46%, and oxygen consumption by 13-22%, 21-22%, and 26-29%, during 0- to 3-, 4- to 7-, and 8- to 11-min placement periods, respectively. Adenosine deaminase abolished the entire 11-min hyperemia, whereas dipyridamole significantly enhanced the initial 7-min hyperemia (45-49%). Both drugs abolished the initial 7-min food-induced increase in oxygen consumption. Dipyridamole attenuated (14%), whereas deaminase did not alter (28%), the increased oxygen consumption that occurred at 8-11 min. Adenosine deaminase also prevented the food-induced increase in venoarterial adenosine concentration difference. In separate series of experiments, luminal placement of food significantly increased jejunal lymphatic adenosine concentration and release. Also, reactive hyperemia was accompanied by an increase in venous adenosine concentration and release. This study provides further evidence to support the thesis that adenosine plays a role in postprandial and reactive hyperemia in the canine jejunum.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-256
Author(s):  
William F. Powers ◽  
Paul R. Swyer

Stimulated blood flow was measured in the legs of 28 infants who had undergone umbilical arterial catheterization in the neonatal period. Catheter tips were positioned in the region of the aortic bifurcation, and only an isotonic saline/dextrose solution was continuously pumped through the catheter. The catheters were in place for an average of 58.3 hours (range, 4 to 144), and the infants were studied between 29 and 135 days of age (mean, 67 days). Blood flow in both legs was measured simultaneously by venous occlusion plethysmography using a mercury-in-rubber strain gauge. Analysis of peak stimulated blood flow in each leg and simultaneous flow in the opposite leg showed no difference between flow in the leg whose iliac artery had been catheterized in the neonatal period and flow in the opposite leg (paired t-test = 0.17; P &gt; .50). No chronic, subclinical flow deficiencies of umbilical arterial catheterization were demonstrable. We see no new reason to curtail the judicious use of the umbilical artery catheter.


Physiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 234-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Premont ◽  
Jonathan S. Stamler

The supply of oxygen to tissues is controlled by microcirculatory blood flow. One of the more surprising discoveries in cardiovascular physiology is the critical dependence of microcirculatory blood flow on a single conserved cysteine within the β-subunit (βCys93) of hemoglobin (Hb). βCys93 is the primary site of Hb S-nitrosylation [i.e., S-nitrosothiol (SNO) formation to produce S-nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb)]. Notably, S-nitrosylation of βCys93 by NO is favored in the oxygenated conformation of Hb, and deoxygenated Hb releases SNO from βCys93. Since SNOs are vasodilatory, this mechanism provides a physiological basis for how tissue hypoxia increases microcirculatory blood flow (hypoxic autoregulation of blood flow). Mice expressing βCys93A mutant Hb (C93A) have been applied to understand the role of βCys93, and RBCs more generally, in cardiovascular physiology. Notably, C93A mice are unable to effect hypoxic autoregulation of blood flow and exhibit widespread tissue hypoxia. Moreover, reactive hyperemia (augmentation of blood flow following transient ischemia) is markedly impaired. C93A mice display multiple compensations to preserve RBC vasodilation and overcome tissue hypoxia, including shifting SNOs to other thiols on adult and fetal Hbs and elsewhere in RBCs, and growing new blood vessels. However, compensatory vasodilation in C93A mice is uncoupled from hypoxic control, both peripherally (e.g., predisposing to ischemic injury) and centrally (e.g., impairing hypoxic drive to breathe). Altogether, physiological studies utilizing C93A mice are confirming the allosterically controlled role of SNO-Hb in microvascular blood flow, uncovering essential roles for RBC-mediated vasodilation in cardiovascular physiology and revealing new roles for RBCs in cardiovascular disease.


2007 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 1070-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kooijman ◽  
M. de Hoog ◽  
G. A. Rongen ◽  
H. J. M. van Kuppevelt ◽  
P. Smits ◽  
...  

Local vasoconstriction plays an important role in maintaining blood pressure in spinal cord-injured individuals (SCI). We aimed to unravel the mechanisms of local vasoconstriction [venoarteriolar reflex (VAR) and myogenic response] using both limb dependency and cuff inflation in SCI and compare these with control subjects. Limb blood flow was measured in 11 male SCI (age: 24–55 yr old) and 9 male controls (age: 23–56 yr old) using venous occlusion plethysmography in forearm and calf during three levels of 1) limb dependency, and 2) cuff inflation. During limb dependency, vasoconstriction relies on both the VAR and the myogenic response. During cuff inflation, the decrease in blood flow is caused by the VAR and by a decrease in arteriovenous pressure difference, whereas the myogenic response does not play a role. At the highest level of leg dependency, the percent increase in calf vascular resistance (mean arterial pressure/calf blood flow) was more pronounced in SCI than in controls (SCI 186 ± 53%; controls 51 ± 17%; P = 0.032). In contrast, during cuff inflation, no differences were found between SCI and controls (SCI 17 ± 17%; controls 14 ± 10%). Percent changes in forearm vascular resistance in response to either forearm dependency or forearm cuff inflation were equal in both groups. Thus local vasoconstriction during dependency of the paralyzed leg in SCI is enhanced. The contribution of the VAR to local vasoconstriction does not differ between the groups, since no differences between groups existed for cuff inflation. Therefore, the augmented local vasoconstriction in SCI during leg dependency relies, most likely, on the myogenic response.


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