Change in digital blood flow with simultaneous reduction in plasma endothelin induced by hand-arm vibration.
Involvement of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) or endothelium-derived constricting factor (EDCF) has been proposed as the pathophysiologic mechanism of vibration-induced white finger (VWF). Recent evidence that endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide indicates that it may play a role in vasoregulation during vibration exposure through the local actions of EDRF or EDCF. Therefore, we examined the effects of grasping (50 N) and hand-arm vibration (50 m/s2 rms, 120 Hz, x-axis) on digital blood flow (DBF) and on the level of plasma endothelin in seven healthy male office workers. Grasping decreased DBF without affecting endothelin, and vibration increased DBF with a simultaneous reduction in endothelin. The grasping-induced decrease in DBF seemed to be due to mechanical compression of the vessels. The negative correlation between DBF and endothelin during vibration exposure suggests that a reduction in release of endothelin from smooth muscle into the vessel cavity during vibration leads to vasodilatation, possibly attributable to the local axon reflex.
Nakamura
H
H
Department of Public Health, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Japan.
Okazawa
T
T
Nagase
H
H
Yoshida
M
M
Ariizumi
M
M
Okada
A
A
D001132:Arm; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration
D016232:Endothelins