Aging and the control of human skin blood flow.
Human exposure to cold and heat stimulates cutaneous vasoconstriction and vasodilation via distinct sympathetic reflex and locally mediated pathways. The mechanisms mediating cutaneous vasoconstriction and vasodilation are impaired with primary aging, rendering the aged more vulnerable to hypothermia and cardiovascular complications from heat-related illness, respectively. This paper highlights recent findings discussing how age-related decrements in sympathetic neurotransmission contribute directly to thermoregulatory impairments, whereas changes in local intracellular signaling suggest a more generalized age-associated vascular dysfunction.
Holowatz
Lacy A
LA
Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, Noll Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA. lma191@psu.edu
Thompson-Torgerson
Caitlin
C
Kenney
W Larry
WL
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology