title: Sympathetic responses to head-down rotations in humans.
abstract: Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) increases with head-down neck flexion (HDNF). The present study had three aims: 1) to examine sympathetic and vascular responses to two different magnitudes of HDNF; 2) to examine these same responses during prolonged HDNF; and 3) to determine the influence of nonspecific pressure receptors in the head on MSNA. The first experiment tested responses to two static head positions in the vertical axis [HDNF and intermediate HDNF (I-HDNF; approximately 50% of HDNF)]. MSNA increased above baseline during both I-HDNF and HDNF (from 219 +/- 36 to 301 +/- 47 and from 238 +/- 42 to 356 +/- 59 units/min, respectively; P < 0.01). Calf blood flow (CBF) decreased and calf vascular resistance increased during both I-HDNF and HDNF (P < 0.01). Both the increase in MSNA and the decrease in CBF were linearly related to the magnitude of the downward head rotations (P < 0.01). The second experiment tested responses during prolonged HDNF. MSNA increased (from 223 +/- 63 to 315 +/- 79 units/min; P < 0.01) and CBF decreased (from 3.2 +/- 0.4 to 2.6 +/- 0.04 ml. 100 ml-1. min-1; P < 0.01) at the onset of HDNF. These responses were maintained throughout the 30-min period. Mean arterial blood pressure gradually increased during the 30 min of HDNF (from 94 +/- 4 to 105 +/- 3 mmHg; P < 0.01). In a third experiment, head-down neck extension was performed with subjects in the supine position. Unlike HDNF, head-down neck extension did not affect MSNA. The results from these studies demonstrate that MSNA: 1) increases in magnitude as the degree of HDNF increases; 2) remains elevated above baseline during prolonged HDNF; and 3) responses during HDNF are not associated with nonspecific receptors in the head activated by increases in cerebral pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, General Clinical Research Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D018475:Head-Down Tilt / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D016684:Prone Position / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors