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Aortic stiffness contributes to greater pressor responses during static hand grip exercise in healthy young and middle-aged normotensive men

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posted on 2023-08-21, 10:06 authored by Denis J. Wakeham, Rachel LordRachel Lord, Jack TalbotJack Talbot, Freya M. Lodge, Bryony Curry, Tony DawkinsTony Dawkins, Lydia L. Simpson, Chris PughChris Pugh, Rob Shave, Jonathan P. Moore

Central arterial stiffness can influence exercise blood pressure (BP) by increasing the rise in arterial pressure per unit increase in aortic inflow. Whether central arterial stiffness influences the pressor response to isometric handgrip exercise (HG) and post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI), two common laboratory tests to study sympathetic control of BP, is unknown. We studied 46 healthy non-hypertensive males (23 young and 23 middle-aged) during HG (which increases in cardiac output [Q̇c]) and isolated metaboreflex activation PEMI (no change or decreases in Q̇c). Aortic stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity [aPWV]; applanation tonometry via SphygmoCor) was measured during supine rest and was correlated to the pressor responses to HG and PEMI. BP (photoplethysmography) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were continuously recorded at rest, during HG to fatigue (35 % maximal voluntary contraction) and 2-min of PEMI. aPWV was higher in middle-aged compared to young males (7.1 ± 0.9 vs 5.4 ± 0.7 m/s, P < 0.001). Middle-aged males also exhibited greater increases in systolic pressure (∆30 ± 11 vs 10 ± 8 mmHg) and MSNA (∆2313 ± 2006 vs 1387 ± 1482 %/min) compared to young males during HG (both, P < 0.03); with no difference in the Q̇c response (P = 0.090). Responses to PEMI were not different between groups. Sympathetic transduction during these stressors (MSNA-diastolic pressure slope) was not different between groups (P > 0.341). Middle-aged males displayed a greater increase in SBP per unit change of Q̇c during HG (∆SBP/∆Q̇c; 21 ± 18 vs 6 ± 10 mmHg/L/min, P = 0.004), with a strong and moderate relationship between the change in systolic (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) and diastolic pressure (r = 0.34, P = 0.023) and resting aPWV, respectively; with no correlation during PEMI. Central arterial stiffness can modulate pressor responses during stimuli associated with increases in cardiac output and sympathoexcitation in healthy males.

History

Publisher

Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Citation

Wakeham, D.J., Lord, R.N., Talbot, J.S., Lodge, F.M., Curry, B.A., Dawkins, T.G., Simpson, L.L., Pugh, C.J., Shave, R.E. and Moore, J.P. (2023) 'Aortic stiffness contributes to greater pressor responses during static hand grip exercise in healthy young and middle-aged normotensive men', Autonomic Neuroscience, 248, p.103106. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2023.103106

Print ISSN

1566-0702

Cardiff Met Affiliation

  • Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences

Cardiff Met Authors

Denis Wakeham Rachel Lord Jack Talbot Bryony Curry Tony Dawkins Chris Pugh

Cardiff Met Research Centre/Group

  • Cardiovascular Physiology

Copyright Holder

  • © The Publisher

Language

  • en

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