title: Impact of sympathetic nervous system activity on post-exercise flow-mediated dilatation in humans.
abstract: Transient reduction in vascular function following systemic large muscle group exercise has previously been reported in humans. The mechanisms responsible are currently unknown. We hypothesised that sympathetic nervous system activation, induced by cycle ergometer exercise, would contribute to post-exercise reductions in flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Ten healthy male subjects (28 ± 5 years) undertook two 30 min sessions of cycle exercise at 75% HR(max). Prior to exercise, individuals ingested either a placebo or an α1-adrenoreceptor blocker (prazosin; 0.05 mg kg(-1)). Central haemodynamics, brachial artery shear rate (SR) and blood flow profiles were assessed throughout each exercise bout and in response to brachial artery FMD, measured prior to, immediately after and 60 min after exercise. Cycle exercise increased both mean and antegrade SR (P < 0.001) with retrograde SR also elevated under both conditions (P < 0.001). Pre-exercise FMD was similar on both occasions, and was significantly reduced (27%) immediately following exercise in the placebo condition (t-test, P = 0.03). In contrast, FMD increased (37%) immediately following exercise in the prazosin condition (t-test, P = 0.004, interaction effect P = 0.01). Post-exercise FMD remained different between conditions after correction for baseline diameters preceding cuff deflation and also post-deflation SR. No differences in FMD or other variables were evident 60 min following recovery. Our results indicate that sympathetic vasoconstriction competes with endothelium-dependent dilator activity to determine post-exercise arterial function. These findings have implications for understanding the chronic impacts of interventions, such as exercise training, which affect both sympathetic activity and arterial shear stress.
authors.affiliation: School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Ceri L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Nia C S
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Howard H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.|Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Physiology, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Philip N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Ainslie
authors.affiliation: School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.|Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011224:Prazosin