Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Vascular Capacitance”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

A new technique for study of impact of arterial elasticity on left ventricular mass in rats.

We investigated possible links between left ventricular mass and central arterial elasticity in the adult spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and in a subgroup of SHR in which blood pressure was normalized by chronic antihypertensive drug treatment; results were compared with those of age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Two indexes of arterial elasticity, based on the measurement of aortic pressure pulse wave velocity, were used. First, the slope relating carotidofemoral pulse wave velocity to blood pressure in the phenylephrine-infused pithed preparation was used as a pressure-independent index of wall elasticity. Second, to account for hypertension- and treatment-induced aortic remodeling, elastic modulus was determined from the pulse wave velocity recorded when blood pressure reached that measured in awake animals before anesthesia and pithing, together with values for wall thickness and lumen diameter evaluated by histomorphometric analysis after in situ fixation at the same pressure. In control SHR, regression analysis of variance revealed significant correlations between left ventricular mass and both wave velocity/pressure slope and elastic modulus. Chronic antihypertensive treatment normalized all three parameters. In conclusion, this new technique provides experimental evidence of a link between left ventricular mass and central arterial elasticity.

Animals↗

Modified heart-lung preparation for the evaluation of systolic and diastolic coronary flow in rats.

A modified heart-lung preparation of the rat, which permits measuring systolic and diastolic coronary flow separately and enables coronary compliance to be evaluated, is described. The systemic circulation was substituted by a shunt circuit, and the elastic properties of the arterial tree were mimicked by a rubber balloon. Systolic and diastolic coronary flow was evaluated from the pulmonary and aortic flow signal. Integrated phasic pulmonary flow represented right ventricular stroke volume. Integrated phasic systolic aortic flow represented left ventricular stroke volume minus that volume flowing into the coronary arteries during systole, because the aortic flow probe had to be inserted distal to the origin of the coronary vessels. Because right and left ventricular stroke volume was identical under steady-state conditions, the difference between systolic pulmonary and systolic aortic flow resulted in systolic coronary flow. Diastolic coronary flow was measured by means of the retrograde flow through the aortic flow probe. Coronary compliance was calculated according to Frank's windkessel model from coronary resistance and from central diastolic aortic pressure, which decayed exponentially after switching out the rubber balloon and the shunt circuit. It could be shown that the proportion of systolic to diastolic coronary flow depends on coronary compliance.

Animals↗

Enhanced sympathetic reactivity associates with insulin resistance in the young Zucker rat.

Somatosympathetic reflexes were studied in young hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant (Zucker fatty) rats (ZFR) and a related control (Zucker lean) strain (ZLR). Glucose metabolism was characterized by minimal model analysis of intravenous glucose tolerance test data. Seven-week-old ZFR (n=18) and ZLR (n=17) were studied under pentobarbital anesthesia. Mean body weight and plasma glucose and insulin concentration were significantly greater (P<0.05) in ZFR than in ZLR, whereas basal values of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were not significantly different. Increments of MAP (DeltaMAP) and HR (DeltaHR) elicited by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve (5-s trains of 100 pulses, 0.5-ms pulse duration, 100- to 400-microA pulse intensity) were significantly higher (ANOVA, P<0.05) in ZFR at each level of stimulus intensity. Regression analysis showed a linear increase in DeltaMAP and DeltaHR with increasing sciatic nerve stimulus intensity. Pressor responses to phenylephrine after ganglionic blockade demonstrated that vascular reactivity to adrenergic stimulation is not increased in ZFR compared with ZLR. Thus this factor does not contribute to enhancement of somatosympathetic reflexes observed in this strain. Insulin sensitivity in ZFR was one-fourth (P<0.05) that in ZLR. These results suggest that stronger sympathetic nervous reactivity in ZFR is associated with a severe insulin-resistant state before the onset of hypertension and support the hypothesis that insulin-mediated stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases related to alterations of glucose metabolism.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Reflex peripheral vasoconstriction is diminished in older men.

The purpose of this study was to compare reflex control of limb blood flow in healthy young (Y; 26 +/- 2 yr) and older (O;61 +/- 2 yr) men during whole body cooling under resting conditions. To better isolate the effect of chronological age, the two age groups (n = 6 per group) were closely matched for maximal oxygen uptake, body surface area, skinfold thickness, and fat-free weight. Subjects sat in an environmentally controlled chamber clad in standardized (0.6-clo) light cotton clothing at a dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) of 28 degrees C. After 30 min, Tdb was decreased by 2 degrees C every 5 min until Tdb = 10 degrees C, where it was held constant for the remainder of the 120-min session. Esophageal and mean skin temperatures were monitored continuously. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured every 5 min by venous occlusion plethysmography by using a mercury-in-Silastic strain gauge while arm temperature between the wrist and elbow was clamped at 37.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C by localized warm air heating. In this way, limb vasoconstriction was driven solely by thermoregulatory reflexes and not by direct effects of localized cooling. Mean skin temperature decreased at a similar rate and to a similar extent (by approximately 6 degrees C over a 2-h period) in both age groups, whereas esophageal temperature was relatively unaffected. In response to the local heating, the Y group maintained a significantly higher FBF than did the O group during the initial 30 min but decreased FBF during the cooling phase at a greater rate and to a greater extent than did the O group, leading to a significantly lower FBF during the final 30 min (at Tdb = 10 degrees C). Because there was no age difference in the mean arterial pressure response, similar effects of age were seen on forearm vascular conductance (FBF/mean arterial pressure). It was concluded that older men have a diminished reflex limb vasoconstrictor response to skin cooling. Furthermore, this difference in control of peripheral blood flow appears to be related to age per se; i.e., it is not a reflection of age-related differences in maximal oxygen uptake or body composition.

Adult↗

Effect of aerosolized acetylcholine on bronchial blood flow.

We studied the effects of aerosolized as well as intravenous infusion of acetylcholine on bronchial blood flow in six anesthetized sheep. Intravenous infusion of acetylcholine, at a dose of 2 microg/kg, increased bronchial blood flow from 45 +/- 15 (SE) to 74 +/- 30 ml/min, and vascular conductance increased by 76 +/- 22%. In contrast, aerosolized acetylcholine at doses of 2 and 20 microg/kg decreased bronchial vascular conductance by approximately 10%. At an aerosolized dose of 200 microg/kg, the bronchial vascular conductance increased by approximately 15%, and there was no further increase in conductance when the aerosolized dose was increased to 2,000 microg/kg. Pretreatment of animals with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, partially blocked the vasodilatory effects of intravenous acetylcholine and completely blocked the vasodilatory effects of high-dose aerosolized acetylcholine. These data suggest that aerosolized acetylcholine does not readily penetrate the vascular wall of bronchial circulatory system and, therefore, has minimal vasodilatory effects on the bronchial vasculature.

Acetylcholine↗

Chronic hormone replacement therapy does not alter resting or maximal skin blood flow.

Postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) regulate body core temperature at a lower baseline level at rest in a thermoneutral environment. We conducted a series of studies to test whether, in a thermoneutral environment, chronic (>/=2 yr) oral ERT significantly alters baseline skin blood flow (SkBF) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) and whether ERT alters maximal CVC (CVCmax) and SkBF in postmenopausal women. In the first set of studies, forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured by venous-occlusion plethysmography in 24 postmenopausal women: 8 not taking exogenous hormone therapy (No HRT group), 8 on ERT, and 8 receiving combination of estrogen and progesterone therapy, at rest and during prolonged (1 h) local heating of the forearm at 42 degrees C. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured by brachial auscultation before each set of FBF measurements to calculate forearm vascular conductance (FVC = FBF/MAP). SkBF was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and CVC was calculated as LDF/MAP and standardized as %CVCmax. Baseline FVC, %CVCmax, and maximal FVC were not significantly different among the three groups of women. In the second set of experiments, LDF in ERT and No HRT groups was measured at rest in both thermoneutral and warm environments. %CVCmax was again not significantly different between ERT and No HRT groups at thermoneutral ambient temperatures and increased similarly in the warm environment. Therefore, chronic exogenous ERT does not appear to influence either baseline or maximal SkBF.

Blood Pressure↗

Effect of increasing central venous pressure during passive heating on skin blood flow.

Whole body heating in humans increases skin blood flow (SkBF) and decreases central venous pressure (CVP). This study sought to identify whether elevations in SkBF are augmented during passive heating if CVP is increased during the heat stress. Seven subjects were exposed to passive heating. Once SkBF was substantially elevated, 15 ml/kg warm saline were rapidly infused intravenously. Whole body heating significantly increased cutaneous vascular conductance and decreased CVP from 7.7 +/- 0.6 to 4.9 +/- 0.5 mmHg (P < 0.05). Saline infusion returned CVP to pre-heat-stress pressures (7.9 +/- 0.6 mmHg; P > 0.05) and significantly increased cutaneous vascular conductance relative to the period before saline administration. Moreover, saline infusion did not alter mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, or esophageal temperature (all P > 0.05). To serve as a volume control, 15 ml/kg saline were rapidly infused intravenously in normothermic subjects. Saline infusion increased CVP (P < 0.05) without affecting mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, or cutaneous vascular conductance (all P > 0.05). These data suggest that cardiopulmonary baroreceptor unloading during passive heating may attenuate the elevation in SkBF in humans, whereas loading cardiopulmonary baroreceptors in normothermia has no effect on SkBF.

Adult↗

Effects of 18 days of bed rest on leg and arm venous properties.

Venous function may be altered by bed rest deconditioning. Yet the contribution of altered venous compliance to the orthostatic intolerance observed after bed rest is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 18 days of bed rest on leg and arm (respectively large and small change in gravitational gradients and use patterns) venous properties. We hypothesized that the magnitude of these venous changes would be related to orthostatic intolerance. Eleven healthy subjects (10 men, 1 woman) participated in the study. Before (pre) and after (post) 18 days of 6 degrees head-down tilt bed rest, strain gauge venous occlusion plethysmography was used to assess limb venous vascular characteristics. Leg venous compliance was significantly decreased after bed rest (pre: 0.048 +/- 0.007 ml x 100 ml(-1) x mmHg(-1), post: 0.033 +/- 0.007 ml x 100 ml(-1) x mmHg(-1); P < 0.01), whereas arm compliance did not change. Leg venous flow resistance increased significantly after bed rest (pre: 1.73 +/- 1.08 mmHg x ml(-1) x 100 ml x min, post: 3.10 +/- 1.00 mmHg x ml(-1) x 100 ml x min; P < 0.05). Maximal lower body negative pressure tolerance, which was expressed as cumulative stress index (pressure x time), decreased in all subjects after bed rest (pre: 932 mmHg x min, post: 747 mmHg x min). The decrease in orthostatic tolerance was not related to changes in leg venous compliance. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that after bed rest, leg venous compliance is reduced and leg venous outflow resistance is enhanced. However, these changes are not related to measures of orthostatic tolerance; therefore, alterations in venous compliance do not to play a major role in orthostatic intolerance after 18 days of head-down tilt bed rest.

Adolescent↗

The mouse as a model of cardiovascular adaptations to microgravity.

There are a multitude of physiological adaptations to microgravity, involving the cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and neuroendocrine systems. Some of these adaptations lead to cardiovascular deconditioning on return to normal gravity, posing a threat to human functional integrity after long-term spaceflight. Animal models of microgravity, e.g., tail suspension in rats, have yielded important information regarding the mechanism of these adaptations and have been useful in the design of countermeasures. The mouse could potentially be a useful experimental model, given its small size (smaller and lighter payload) and the powerful tools of experimental mouse genetics, which allow us to dissect mechanisms on a gene-specific basis. We show that the mouse demonstrates a wide range of cardiovascular responses to simulated microgravity, including alterations in heart rate, exercise capacity, peripheral arterial vasodilatory responsiveness, and baroreflex response. These responses are qualitatively similar to many of those demonstrated in humans during spaceflight and in rats using tail suspension, although there are some important differences. Thus the mouse has value as a model for studies of cardiovascular changes during microgravity; however, investigators must maintain an appreciation of important species differences.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Effects of a 6-mo endurance-training program on venous compliance and maximal lower body negative pressure in older men and women.

Aging and chronic exercise training influence leg venous compliance. Venous compliance affects responses to an orthostatic stress. The extent to which exercise training in a previously sedentary older population will affect venous compliance and tolerance to the simulated orthostatic stress of maximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP) is unknown. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the influence of a 6-mo endurance-training program on calf venous compliance and responses and tolerance to maximal LBNP in older men and women. Twenty participants (exercise group: n = 10, 5 men, 5 women; control group: n = 10, 6 men, 4 women; all >60 yr) underwent graded LBNP to presyncope or 4 min at -100 mmHg before and after a 6-mo endurance-training program. Utilizing venous occlusion plethysmography, calf venous compliance was determined in both groups using the first derivative of the pressure-volume relation during cuff pressure reduction before training, at 3 mo, and at the end of the training program. The exercise group improved their fitness with the 6-mo endurance-training program, whereas the control group did not change (14 +/- 3 vs. <1 +/- 2%; P < 0.05). LBNP tolerance did not differ between groups or across trials (P = 0.47). Venous compliance was not different between groups or trials, either initially or after 3 mo of endurance training, but tended to be greater in the exercise group after 6 mo of training (P = 0.08). These data suggest that a 6-mo endurance-training program may improve venous compliance without affecting tolerance to maximal LBNP in older participants.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Age- and fitness-related differences in limb venous compliance do not affect tolerance to maximal lower body negative pressure in men and women.

Aging and chronic exercise training influence leg venous compliance. Venous compliance affects responses to an orthostatic stress; its effect on tolerance to maximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in the elderly is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age and fitness, a surrogate measure of exercise training, on calf venous compliance and tolerance to maximal LBNP in men and women. Forty participants, 10 young fit (YF; age = 22.6 +/- 0.5 yr, peak oxygen uptake = 57.1 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), 10 young unfit (YU; 23.1 +/- 1.0 yr, 41.1 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), 10 older fit (OF; 73.9 +/- 2.0 yr, 39.0 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), and 10 older unfit (OU; 70.9 +/- 1.6 yr, 27.1 +/- 2.0 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), underwent graded LBNP to presyncope or 4 min at -100 mmHg. By utilizing venous occlusion plethysmography, calf venous compliance was determined by using the first derivative of the pressure-volume relation during cuff pressure reduction. We found that the more fit groups had greater venous compliance than their unfit peers (P < 0.05) as did the young groups compared with their older peers (P < 0.05) such that OU < YU = OF < YF. LBNP tolerance did not differ between groups. In conclusion, these data suggest that aging reduces, and chronic exercise increases, venous compliance. However, these data do not support a significant influence of venous compliance on LBNP tolerance.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Differential effects of vasodilators on forearm and calf vessels.

Because the literature comparing the effects of vasodilators on forearm and calf vessels is very scarce, the authors compared different vasodilators used in cardiovascular medicine in a group of volunteers. The peripheral effects were measured in the sitting position by plethysmography at the calf and at the forearm. At the forearm, comparable dilator effects were seen in arteries and veins. At the calf there was a trend for arterial flow to decrease as venous capacitance increased. Vascular response seen in one limb was not representative of the whole circulation. The changes observed were dependent not only on the vascular area investigated but also on the dose used.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular effect of oral calcium supplementation: echocardiographic study in patients with essential hypertension.

Oral calcium (Ca) supplementation mildly reduces blood pressure. The authors studied the effects of Ca supplementation on the cardiovascular system in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Twelve patients aged forty-nine to seventy years (7 men and 5 women, mean age with 60.3 +/- 7.2 years) participated. The investigators orally administered Ca (1.0 g/day for one week) under hospitalization, adding to a dietary intake of Ca (0.6 g/day). Left ventricular function and systemic arterial compliance were evaluated by M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiographies before and after seven days of Ca supplementation. Left ventricular contractility and afterload were not changed. Preload indicated by end-diastolic volume was significantly decreased after Ca supplementation (109.6 +/- 8.5 vs 107.3 +/- 8.2 mL, P < 0.05). Myocardial relaxation evaluated by IIa-mitral valve opening time (87.7 +/- 6.7 vs 82.1 +/- 6.2 ms, P < 0.01) and maximum descending rate of the left ventricular posterior wall (10.6 +/- 1.0 vs 12.4 +/- 1.0 cm/s, P < 0.01), and atrioventricular net compliance assessed by the descending slope of rapid filling flow in the left ventricular inflow tract (2.63 +/- 0.24 vs 2.26 +/- 0.17 m/s2, P <0.05), as well as systemic arterial compliance (2.05 +/- 0.20 vs 2.73 +/- 0.26 mL/mmHg, P < 0.01) were significantly improved by Ca supplementation. Oral Ca supplementation improved the disturbed left ventricular diastolic function and systemic arterial compliance.

Administration, Oral↗

Relationship between ultrasound assessment of arterial wall properties and blood pressure.

Physical properties of an artery can be described in terms of stiffness, distensibility, and compliance. Changes in these properties can predict atherosclerosis disease, but it is necessary to identify an index that is independent of changes in blood pressure. We measured common carotid artery diameter and pulsatile change with an ultrasonic phase-locked, echo-tracking system in 7 subjects whose mean brachial blood pressure had varied 15 mm Hg or more within a month. Patients taking antihypertensive agents were excluded from the study. We measured changes in arterial diameter (n = 41) at least four times during the study period and calculated the pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), distensibility coefficient (DC), cross-sectional compliance (CC) and stiffness parameter (beta) from inner diameter, its pulsatile change, and blood pressure. The correlation coefficients of mean blood pressure with each index are as follows: Ep, 0.53; DC, 0.58; CC, 0.63; beta, 0.21. When mean blood pressure increased 1 mm Hg, the change in each index at 100 mm Hg was as follows: Ep, 1.48 +/- 1.30%; DC, -1.05 +/- 0.97%; CC, -0.69 +/- 0.90%; beta, 0.45 +/- 1.11%. Among the four indices that measure the properties of the arterial walls, stiffness parameter beta was the least dependent on blood pressure. Thus, it appears to have usefulness as an index of arterial wall sclerosis.

Aged↗

Microvascular luminal volume changes in aged mouse periodontal ligament.

Data for the microvascular bed in the aged periodontal ligament have not been established. This investigation tested the hypothesis that the luminal microvascular volume decreased in the aged ligament. Mice 35 days old and one year old were vascular-perfused and the mandibular first molar periodontal ligament processed for electron microscopy. Tissue quadrats from each circumferential third ligament region were recorded at 150-microns intervals from the alveolar crest to the apex for randomized sampling of blood vessel lumina. The data were analyzed with a generalized linear model at the p < 0.01 level for the interaction of the aging effect with differences across regions. Stereological parameters were established for vessel lumen volume, and for surface and length densities. Mean ligament width decreased from 119.9 +/- 16.94 (micron +/- SE) in young mice to 60.0 +/- 10.58 (micron +/- SE) in aged mice. The luminal volume of 8.63 +/- 1.37 (% +/- SE) in young ligament increased to 9.83 +/- 2.14 (% +/- SE) in aged ligament. Collecting venules and the combined group of arterio-venous anastomoses with terminal arterioles showed a two-fold increase in luminal volume density (p < 0.01). In aged ligament, regional shifts affected the microvascular bed distribution, but these changes were not consistent across regions, or with depth. The average cross-sectional tissue area served per capillary decreased from 2117 microns 2 to 1451 microns 2 for young and old. Average ligament thickness served per capillary dropped from 52.5 microns to 27.5 microns. These reductions in average diffusion distances indicated a change in the quality of the diffusion barrier with age.

Age Factors↗

Explaining left ventricular pressure dynamics in terms of LV passive and active elastances.

There has been much characterization of the heart as a pump by means of models based on elastance and compliance. The present paper puts forward the new concept of time-varying passive and active elastance. The biomechanical basis of cyclic elastances of the left ventricle (LV) is presented. Elastance is defined in terms of the relationship between ventricular pressure and volume as dP = EdV+ VdE, where E includes passive elastance, Ep, and active elastance, Ea. By incorporating this concept in LV models to simulate diastolic (filling) and systolic phases, a time-varying expression has been obtained for Ea, and an LV volume dependent expression has been obtained for Ep. It is proposed to use these two elastances Ea and Ep to represent the intrinsic LV properties. The active elastance, Ea, can be used to characterize the LV contractile state and represents LV pressure variation due to LV volume variation (such as during the filling and ejection phases). The passive elastance, Ep, can serve as a measure of LV resistance to filling. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated how the LV pressure dynamics (and LV pressure response to LV volume) can be explained in terms of Ea and Ep.

Blood Pressure↗

Nasal airflow resistance: a survey of 2500 assessments.

Examination of rhinomanometric records of 2500 referred adult patients revealed 891 unobstructed noses (Rn < 0.25 Pa/cm3/sec). Topical decongestant reduced respiratory airflow resistances of these noses by 1/3 on average indicating the extent of the vascular component. Alar retraction, which minimizes resistance of the compliant portion of the nose, reduced unilateral nasal resistances by as much as 2/3, establishing the alar lumen as a major resistive segment of the unobstructed nasal airway. The nasal resistances that persisted after decongestion and alar retraction predominated in the immediately adjacent cavum. There remained 1350 noses designated as obstructed by clinician assessment of the records and suitable for analysis. Application of topical decongestant, which minimized the mucovascular component of resistance, revealed 4/5 of residual obstructions to be principally unilateral and were designated as structural. Half these structural obstructions were restricted to the alar lumen and half included the alar lumen and the adjoining cavum. Obstructions confined to the cavum were less than 2%. A further 1/5 of the nasal obstructions were bilateral and their resistances, which were markedly elevated in many cases, were substantially reduced by topical decongestant indicating an extensive vascular component. They were designated as mucosal.

Administration, Intranasal↗