title: Reproducibility of Cutaneous Vascular Conductance Responses to Slow Local Heating Assessed Using seven-Laser Array Probes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gradual local heating of the skin induces a largely NO-mediated vasodilatation. However, use of this assessment of microvascular health is limited because little is known about its reproducibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers (n = 9) reported twice to the laboratory. CVC, derived from laser Doppler flux and mean arterial pressure, was examined in response to a standardized local heating protocol (0.5°C per 150 second from 33°C to 42°C, followed by 20 minutes at 44°C). Skin responses were examined at two locations on the forearm (between-site). Heating was repeated after a break of 24-72 hours (between-day). Reproducibility of skin responses at 33-42°C is presented for absolute CVC and relative CVC responses corrected for maximal CVC at 44°C (%CVCmax ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between-day reproducibility of baseline CVC and %CVCmax for both sites was relatively poor (22-30%). At 42°C, CVC and %CVCmax responses showed less variation (9-19%), whilst absolute CVC responses at 44°C were 14-17%. Between-day variation for %CVCmax increased when using data from site 1 on day 1, but site 2 on the subsequent day (25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Day-to-day reproducibility of baseline laser Doppler-derived skin perfusion responses is poor, but acceptable when absolute and relative skin perfusion to a local gradual heating protocol is utilized and site-to-site variation is minimized.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Iris H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Meeuwis
authors.forename: Floor G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Kerstens
authors.forename: Ceri L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Nigel Timothy
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: endothelial function; local heating; microvasculature; nitric oxide; skin microcirculation