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  • Title: No effect of systemic isocapnic hypoxia on α-adrenergic vasoconstrictor responsiveness in human skin.
    Author: Simmons GH, Fieger SM, Wong BJ, Minson CT, Halliwill JR.
    Journal: Acta Physiol (Oxf); 2011 Mar; 201(3):339-47. PubMed ID: 20946237.
    Abstract:
    UNLABELLED: Hypoxia impairs body temperature regulation and abolishes the decline in skin temperature associated with cold exposure, suggesting that cutaneous vasoconstriction is impaired. AIM: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that cutaneous vasoconstriction to intradermal tyramine, an index of post-junctional vasoconstrictor responsiveness, is reduced during hypoxia. METHODS: Twelve subjects (six males, six females) had three microdialysis fibres placed in the ventral forearm. Fibres received either lactated ringers, 5 mm yohimbine (α-adrenergic blockade), or 10.5 μm BIBP-3226 (to antagonize neuropeptide Y Y(1) receptors). Skin blood flow was assessed at each site (laser-Doppler flowmetry) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (red blood cell flux/mean arterial pressure) and scaled to baseline. Vasoconstrictor responses to tyramine (173 μm) were tested during normoxia and steady-state isocapnic hypoxia (SaO(2) = 80%) in random order. RESULTS: During normoxia, tyramine reduced CVC by 56.0±5.6 and 50.3±8.0% in control and BIBP-3226 sites (both P<0.05 vs. pre-tyramine; P=0.445 between sites) whereas CVC in the yohimbine site did not change (P=0.398 vs. pre-tyramine). During isocapnic hypoxia, tyramine reduced CVC by 55.9±5.1 and 54.2±5.4% in control and BIBP-3226 sites (both P<0.05 vs. pre-tyramine; P=0.814 between sites) whereas CVC was unchanged in the yohimbine site (P=0.732 vs. pre-tyramine). Isocapnic hypoxia did not affect vasoconstrictor responses at any site (all P>0.05 vs. normoxia). CONCLUSION: We conclude that post-junctional α-adrenergic vasoconstrictor responsiveness is not affected by hypoxia in non-acral skin.
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