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  • Title: Mechanisms of rapid vasodilation after a brief contraction in human skeletal muscle.
    Author: Crecelius AR, Kirby BS, Luckasen GJ, Larson DG, Dinenno FA.
    Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol; 2013 Jul 01; 305(1):H29-40. PubMed ID: 23645465.
    Abstract:
    A monophasic increase in skeletal muscle blood flow is observed after a brief single forearm contraction in humans, yet the underlying vascular signaling pathways remain largely undetermined. Evidence from experimental animals indicates an obligatory role of vasodilation via K⁺-mediated smooth muscle hyperpolarization, and human data suggest little to no independent role for nitric oxide (NO) or vasodilating prostaglandins (PGs). We tested the hypothesis that K⁺-mediated vascular hyperpolarization underlies the rapid vasodilation in humans and that combined inhibition of NO and PGs would have a minimal effect on this response. We measured forearm blood flow (Doppler ultrasound) and calculated vascular conductance 10 s before and for 30 s after a single 1-s dynamic forearm contraction at 10%, 20%, and 40% maximum voluntary contraction in 16 young adults. To inhibit K⁺-mediated vasodilation, BaCl₂ and ouabain were infused intra-arterially to inhibit inwardly rectifying K⁺ channels and Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, respectively. Combined enzymatic inhibition of NO and PG synthesis occurred via NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; NO synthase) and ketorolac (cyclooxygenase), respectively. In protocol 1 (n = 8), BaCl₂ + ouabain reduced peak vasodilation (range: 30-45%, P < 0.05) and total postcontraction vasodilation (area under the curve, ~55-75% from control) at all intensities. Contrary to our hypothesis, L-NMMA + ketorolac had a further impact (peak: ~60% and area under the curve: ~80% from control). In protocol 2 (n = 8), the order of inhibitors was reversed, and the findings were remarkably similar. We conclude that K⁺-mediated hyperpolarization and NO and PGs, in combination, significantly contribute to contraction-induced rapid vasodilation and that inhibition of these signaling pathways nearly abolishes this phenomenon in humans.
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