Heterogeneous baroreflex control of sympathetic action potential subpopulations in humans. 2020

Stephen A Klassen, and M Erin Moir, and Charlotte W Usselman, and J Kevin Shoemaker
Neurovascular Research Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Emission patterns in muscle sympathetic nerve activity stem from differently sized action potential (AP) subpopulations that express varying discharge probabilities. The mechanisms governing these firing behaviours are unclear. This study investigated the hypothesis that the arterial baroreflex exerts varying control over the different AP subpopulations. During baseline, medium APs expressed the greatest baroreflex slopes, while small and large APs exhibited weaker slopes. On going from baseline to lower body negative pressure (LBNP; simulated orthostatic stress), baroreflex slopes for some clusters of medium APs expressed the greatest increase, while slopes for large APs also increased but to a lesser degree. A subpopulation of previously silent larger APs was recruited with LBNP but these APs expressed weak baroreflex slopes. The arterial baroreflex heterogeneously regulates sympathetic AP subpopulations, exerting its strongest effect over medium APs. Weak baroreflex mechanisms govern the recruitment of latent larger AP subpopulations during orthostatic stress. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) occurs primarily in bursts of action potentials (AP) with subpopulations that differ in size and discharge probabilities. The mechanisms determining these discharge patterns remain unclear. This study investigated the hypothesis that variations in AP discharge are due to subpopulation-specific baroreflex control. We employed multi-unit microneurography and a continuous wavelet analysis approach to extract sympathetic APs in 12 healthy individuals during baseline (BSL) and lower body negative pressure (LBNP; -40, -60, -80 mmHg). For each AP cluster, the baroreflex threshold slope was measured from the linear regression between AP probability (%) and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg). During BSL, the baroreflex exerted non-uniform regulation over AP subpopulations: medium-sized AP clusters expressed the greatest slopes while clusters of small and large APs expressed weaker slopes. On going from BSL to LBNP, the baroreflex slopes for each AP subpopulation were modified differently. Baroreflex slopes (%/mmHg) for some medium APs (cluster 5: -4.4 ± 4 to -9.1 ± 5) expressed the greatest increase with LBNP, while slopes for large APs (cluster 9: -1.3 ± 1 to -2.6 ± 2) also increased, but to a lesser degree. Slopes for small APs present at BSL exhibited reductions with LBNP (cluster 2: -3.9 ± 3 to -2.2 ± 3). Larger previously silent AP clusters recruited with LBNP expressed weak baroreflex regulation (cluster 14: -0.9 ± 1%/mmHg). The baroreflex exerts the strongest control over medium-sized APs. Augmenting baroreflex gain and upward resetting of discrete AP subpopulations active at BSL, as well as recruiting larger previously silent APs with weak baroreflex control, facilitates elevated MSNA during orthostatic stress.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008150 Lower Body Negative Pressure External decompression applied to the lower body. It is used to study orthostatic intolerance and the effects of gravitation and acceleration, to produce simulated hemorrhage in physiologic research, to assess cardiovascular function, and to reduce abdominal stress during childbirth. Abdominal Decompression,Decompression, Abdominal,LBNP
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D013564 Sympathetic Nervous System The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system. Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D017704 Baroreflex A response by the BARORECEPTORS to increased BLOOD PRESSURE. Increased pressure stretches BLOOD VESSELS which activates the baroreceptors in the vessel walls. The net response of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM is a reduction of central sympathetic outflow. This reduces blood pressure both by decreasing peripheral VASCULAR RESISTANCE and by lowering CARDIAC OUTPUT. Because the baroreceptors are tonically active, the baroreflex can compensate rapidly for both increases and decreases in blood pressure. Reflex, Baroreceptor,Baroreceptor Reflex,Baroreceptor Reflexes,Baroreflexes,Reflexes, Baroreceptor
D018482 Muscle, Skeletal A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles. Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles

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