title: The contribution of sensory nerves to cutaneous vasodilatation of the forearm and leg to local skin heating.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The initial cutaneous vasodilatory response to local skin heating is larger in the forearm than the leg. While the initial vasodilatation of the forearm to local heating is primarily dependent on sensory nerves, their role in the leg is unknown. We compared the contribution of sensory nerves in driving the cutaneous vasodilatory response of the forearm and leg to local heating using local anaesthetic (EMLA) cream.
  
  
  METHODS
  In seven participants, two skin sites were selected on both the dorsal forearm and anterolateral calf; one site on each region received EMLA, with the other an untreated control. All sites were controlled at 33 °C and then locally heated to 42 °C with integrated laser-Doppler local heating probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) during the initial vasodilatation to local heating was smaller in the leg (47 ± 9% max) compared to the forearm (62 ± 7 % max) (P = 0.012). EMLA reduced the initial vasodilatation at both the leg (27 ± 13 % max) (P = 0.02) and forearm (33 ± 14% max) (P < 0.001). The times to onset of vasodilatation, initial vasodilatory peak, and plateau phase were longer in the leg compared to the forearm (all P < 0.05), and EMLA increased these times in both regions (both P < 0.05). CVC during the plateau phase to sustained local skin heating was higher in the leg compared to the forearm at both the untreated (93 ± 6 vs. 85 ± 4% max) (P = 0.33) and EMLA-treated (94 ± 5 vs. 86 ± 6% max) (P = 0.001) sites; EMLA did not affect CVC (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in the initial vasodilatory peak to local skin heating between the forearm and the leg are due to the contribution of sensory nerves.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada. ghodges@brocku.ca.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Hawthorne, NY, 10532, USA.|Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Hawthorne, NY, 10532, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Del Pozzi
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: McGarr
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mallette
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D012881:Skin Temperature; D014664:Vasodilation
keywords: EMLA; Laser Doppler; Local heating; Skin blood flow