Lack of limb or sex differences in the cutaneous vascular responses to exogenous norepinephrine

Jody L Greaney; Anna E Stanhewicz; W Larry Kenney; Lacy M Alexander

doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00575.2014

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Lack of limb or sex differences in the cutaneous vascular responses to exogenous norepinephrine

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Lack of limb or sex differences in the cutaneous vascular responses to exogenous norepinephrine

Jody L Greaney, Anna E Stanhewicz, W Larry Kenney and Lacy M Alexander

Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.117(12), pp.1417-1423

12/15/2014

DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00575.2014

PMCID: PMC4269681

PMID: 25342706

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Abstract

The cutaneous circulation is used to examine vascular adrenergic function in clinical populations; however, limited studies have examined whether there are regional limb and sex differences in microvascular adrenergic responsiveness. We hypothesized that cutaneous adrenergic responsiveness would be greater in the leg compared with the arm and that these regional limb differences would be blunted in young women (protocol 1). We further hypothesized that cutaneous vasoconstriction to exogenous norepinephrine (NE) during β-adrenergic receptor antagonism would be augmented in young women (protocol 2). In protocol 1, one microdialysis fiber was placed in the skin of the calf and the ventral forearm in 20 healthy young adults (11 men and 9 women). Laser-Doppler flowmetry was used to measure red blood cell flux in response to graded intradermal microdialysis infusions of NE (10(-12) to 10(-2) M). In protocol 2, three microdialysis fibers were placed in the forearm (6 men and 8 women) for the local perfusion of lactated Ringer (control), 5 mM yohimbine (α-adrenergic receptor antagonist), or 2 mM propranolol (β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) during concurrent infusions of NE (10(-12) to 10(-2) M). There were no limb or sex differences in cutaneous adrenergic responsiveness (logEC50) to exogenous NE. During α-adrenergic receptor blockade, women had greater exogenous NE-induced cutaneous vasodilation at the lowest doses of NE (10(-12) to 10(-10) M). Collectively, these data indicate that there are no limb or sex differences in cutaneous adrenergic responsiveness to exogenous NE; however, young women have a greater β-adrenergic receptor-mediated component of the vascular responsiveness to exogenous NE.

Administration, Cutaneous

Adrenergic Agonists - administration & dosage

Adrenergic Antagonists - administration & dosage

Adult

Blood Flow Velocity

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

Female

Humans

Laser-Doppler Flowmetry

Lower Extremity

Male

Microcirculation - drug effects

Microdialysis

Norepinephrine - administration & dosage

Regional Blood Flow

Sex Factors

Skin - blood supply

Upper Extremity

Vasoconstriction - drug effects

Vasodilation - drug effects

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Lack of limb or sex differences in the cutaneous vascular responses to exogenous norepinephrine
Creators: Jody L Greaney - Pennsylvania State University
Anna E Stanhewicz - Pennsylvania State University
W Larry Kenney - Pennsylvania State University
Lacy M Alexander - Pennsylvania State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied physiology (1985), Vol.117(12), pp.1417-1423
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00575.2014
PMID: 25342706
PMCID: PMC4269681
NLM abbreviation: J Appl Physiol (1985)
ISSN: 8750-7587
eISSN: 1522-1601
Grant note: HL093-238-04 / NHLBI NIH HHS F32 HL120471 / NHLBI NIH HHS AG007004-23 / NIA NIH HHS HL120471-01 / NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL093238 / NHLBI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 12/15/2014
Academic Unit: Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984259654802771

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