title: Endothelial dysfunction following prolonged sitting is mediated by a reduction in shear stress.
abstract: We and others have recently reported that prolonged sitting impairs endothelial function in the leg vasculature; however, the mechanism(s) remain unknown. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that a sustained reduction in flow-induced shear stress is the underlying mechanism by which sitting induces leg endothelial dysfunction. Specifically, we examined whether preventing the reduction in shear stress during sitting would abolish the detrimental effects of sitting on popliteal artery endothelial function. In 10 young healthy men, bilateral measurements of popliteal artery flow-mediated dilation were performed before and after a 3-h sitting period during which one foot was submerged in 42°C water (i.e., heated) to increase blood flow and thus shear stress, whereas the contralateral leg remained dry and served as internal control (i.e., nonheated). During sitting, popliteal artery mean shear rate was reduced in the nonheated leg (pre-sit, 42.9 ± 4.5 s(-1); and 3-h sit, 23.6 ± 3.3 s(-1); P < 0.05) but not in the heated leg (pre-sit, 38.9 ± 3.4 s(-1); and 3-h sit, 63.9 ± 16.9 s(-1); P > 0.05). Popliteal artery flow-mediated dilation was impaired after 3 h of sitting in the nonheated leg (pre-sit, 7.1 ± 1.4% vs. post-sit, 2.8 ± 0.9%; P < 0.05) but not in the heated leg (pre-sit: 7.3 ± 1.5% vs. post-sit, 10.9 ± 1.8%; P > 0.05). Collectively, these data suggest that preventing the reduction of flow-induced shear stress during prolonged sitting with local heating abolishes the impairment in popliteal artery endothelial function. Thus these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that sitting-induced leg endothelial dysfunction is mediated by a reduction in shear stress.
authors.affiliation: Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri;
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Restaino
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri;
authors.forename: Lauren K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri;
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morishima
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology, University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vranish
authors.affiliation: Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; and.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Martinez-Lemus
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology, University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington, Texas;
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fadel
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; and Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri padillaja@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014664:Vasodilation
keywords: blood flow; endothelial function; physical inactivity