title: Spectral analysis of reflex cutaneous vasodilatation during passive heat stress.
abstract: Previous work has demonstrated that spectral analysis is a useful tool to non-invasively ascertain the mechanisms of control of the cutaneous circulation. The majority of work using spectral analysis has focused on local control mechanisms, with none examining reflex control. Skin blood flow was analysed using spectral analysis on the dorsal aspect of the forearm of 7 males and 7 females during passive heat stress, with mean forearm and local temperature at the site of measurement maintained at thermoneutral (33°C) to minimize the effect of local control mechanisms. Participants were passively heated to ~1.2±0.1°C above baseline rectal temperature (d=4.0, P<0.001) using a water-perfused, tube lined suit, with skin blood flow assessed using a laser-Doppler probe with an integrated temperature monitor. Spectral analysis was performed using a Morlet wavelet on the entire data set, with median power extracted during 20min of data during baseline (normothermia) and hyperthermia. Passive heat stress significantly increased laser-Doppler flux above baseline (d=4.7, P<0.001). Spectral power of the endothelial nitric oxide-independent (0.005-0.01Hz; d=1.1, P=0.004), neurogenic (0.2-0.05Hz; d=0.6, P=0.025), myogenic (0.05-0.15Hz; d=1.5, P=0.002), respiratory (0.15-0.4Hz; d=1.4 P=0.002), and cardiac (0.4-2.0Hz; d=1.1, P=0.012) frequency intervals increased with passive heat stress. In contrast, the endothelial nitric oxide-dependent frequency interval did not change (0.01-0.02Hz; d=0.3, P=0.09) with passive heat stress. These data suggest that cutaneous reflex vasodilatation is neurogenic in origin and not mediated by endothelial-nitric oxide synthase, and are congruent with invasive examinations of reflex cutaneous vasodilatation.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mallette
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: McGarr
authors.affiliation: Electromyographic Kinesiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.affiliation: Environmental Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada. Electronic address: scheung@brocku.ca.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D000069336:Neurovascular Coupling; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012018:Reflex; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation; D058067:Wavelet Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Hyperthermia; Reflex vasodilatation; Skin blood flow; Wavelet analysis