title: Differential effects of hydrocortisone on sympathetic and hemodynamic responses to sympathoexcitatory manoeuvres in men.
abstract: Aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of hydrocortisone on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and hemodynamic parameters during different sympathoexcitatory manoeuvres in humans. The study focuses on the interaction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system and the sympathetic nervous system. Hydrocortisone 100 mg or placebo was administered intravenously to eight young healthy subjects in a double-blind crossover design. After 6 h, blood pressure, heart rate and MSNA from the peroneal nerve were recorded at rest, during an arithmetic stress task, an apnea and a cold pressor test. Hydrocortisone treatment increased serum cortisol levels to the upper physiological range and suppressed basal levels of adrenocorticotropin. During mental stress, MSNA, heart rate and blood pressure levels were elevated independently of hydrocortisone pre-treatment. However, hydrocortisone induced a sustained increase in basal heart rate throughout the whole experiment. A stronger increase in diastolic blood pressure was observed during apnea and cold pressor test in the hydrocortisone experiments. MSNA or plasma catecholamines at rest or during the manoeuvres were not affected by hydrocortisone. The observed hydrocortisone effects may be due to an increased responsiveness of adrenergic receptors towards catecholamines or a central modulation of the baroreflex involving parasympathetic mechanisms. Further studies are needed to confirm that the increase in MSNA during mental stress does not depend on a concomitant activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany. silke.heindl@innere1.mu-luebeck.de
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heindl
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vahlkamp
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weitz
authors.forename: Horst Lorenz
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Fehm
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dodt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D006854:Hydrocortisone