Manoeuvres affecting sympathetic outflow in human muscle nerves

W Delius, KE Hagbarth, A Hongell… - Acta Physiologica …, 1972 - Wiley Online Library
W Delius, KE Hagbarth, A Hongell, BG Wallin
Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 1972Wiley Online Library
Multi‐unit sympathetic activity was recorded in human muscle nerves, together with
measurements of intra‐arterial blood pressure and forearm or calf blood flow, during
manoeuvres causing circulatory adjustments. Manoeuvres causing an increased vascular
resistance in the forearm or calf were regularly associated with an increase in sympathetic
outflow, proving that the neural activity was dominated by vasoconstrictor impulses. The
inverse changes of blood pressure and sympathetic activity observed during Valsalva's …
Abstract
Multi‐unit sympathetic activity was recorded in human muscle nerves, together with measurements of intra‐arterial blood pressure and forearm or calf blood flow, during manoeuvres causing circulatory adjustments. Manoeuvres causing an increased vascular resistance in the forearm or calf were regularly associated with an increase in sympathetic outflow, proving that the neural activity was dominated by vasoconstrictor impulses. The inverse changes of blood pressure and sympathetic activity observed during Valsalva's manoeuvre and mental stress are explicable in terms of baroreflex control of the neural outflow. However, during muscle work and hyperventilation the relation between blood pressure and sympathetic activity was more complex, indicating that the baroreflex influence was superimposed or modified by other regulatory mechanisms. Some manoeuvres known to affect sympathetic outflow in skin nerves caused no appreciable change in sympathetic muscle nerve activity.
Wiley Online Library