Effect of mental stress on the tone of a medium-sized muscular artery.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the effects of mental stress on the tone of the radial artery, a medium-sized muscular artery.


METHODS
Using an A-mode echo-tracking device coupled to a photoplethysmograph, we took continuous measurements of the radial artery diameter, heart rate and finger arterial pressure in six healthy young volunteers.


RESULTS
Under mental stress, the heart rate increased from 63 +/- 4 to 74 +/- 4 beats/min (mean +/- SEM, P < 0.01) and systolic pressure from 123 +/- 5 to 140 +/- 6 mmHg (P < 0.05). No consistent modification in the arterial diameter was observed at this time.


CONCLUSIONS
The activation of sympathetic nerve activity induced by mental stress does not cause a significant contraction in the radial artery.
Hayoz
D
D
Hypertension Division, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Tardy
Y
Y
Rutschmann
B
B
Waeber
B
B
Meister
J J
JJ
Brunner
H R
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology