title: Increased body fat is associated with potentiation of blood pressure response to hypoxia in healthy men: relations with insulin and leptin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased peripheral chemosensitivity (PChS) has been proposed as mechanism underlying obesity-related sympathoactivation, with insulin and/or leptin as possible mediators. However, human data on PChS in obesity are scarce. Therefore, we explored this issue in a sample of 41 healthy men aged 30-59 years, divided according to body fat percentage (fat %) into two groups: <25 and ≥25 %.
  
  
  METHODS
  PChS was assessed using transient hypoxia method [respiratory (PChS-MV), heart rate (PChS-HR), and blood pressure (PChS-SBP) responses were calculated]. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS-Seq) was assessed using sequence method. Fasting plasma insulin and leptin levels were measured. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) was used to assess insulin sensitivity/resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with ≥25 % body fat demonstrated increased PChS-SBP (p < 0.01), but unchanged PChS-MV and PChS-HR (both p > 0.4). PChS-SBP was related positively with anthropometric characteristics (e.g. waist circumference, fat %), plasma insulin and HOMA (all p < 0.05), and negatively with BRS-Seq (p = 0.001), but not with plasma leptin (p = 0.27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy men, overweight/obesity is accompanied by augmented blood pressure response from peripheral chemoreceptors, while respiratory and heart rate responses remain unaltered. Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance (but not hyperleptinaemia) are associated with augmented pressure response from chemoreceptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chałubińskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland. bpaleczny@onet.eu.|Department of Cardiology, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4th Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland. bpaleczny@onet.eu.
authors.forename: Bartłomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paleczny
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chałubińskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland.|Department of Cardiology, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4th Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siennicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zacharski
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4th Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.|Laboratory for Applied Research on Cardiovascular System, Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa Anita
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jankowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Chałubińskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ponikowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Centre for Heart Diseases, 4th Military Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland.|Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ponikowski
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin
keywords: Adipose tissue; Autonomic nervous system; Insulin; Leptin; Peripheral chemoreflex