Cardiovascular beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity of undernourished subjects.
1. Eleven normal-weight male subjects (weight/height2 (W/H2) 19.0-22.5) from a good socio-economic background and on ad lib. food intake, and eight undernourished male labourers (W/H2 16.4-18.6) on low energy intakes, were studied. 2. Comparison of cardiovascular responses to increasing single doses of the beta-agonist, isoproterenol, showed a significantly greater positive chronotropic dose response in the undernourished subjects. 3. Cardiovascular responses to head-up tilt were similar in both the normal-weight and undernourished subjects. 4. Undernourished individuals may show an increase in beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity which may be akin to a denervation type of supersensitivity as a result of a nutrition-related reduction in sympathetic activity.
D000328:Adult; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol