The deleterious effects of acute hypoxia on microvascular and large vessel endothelial function
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Hypoxia is associated with diminished bioavailability of the endothelium-derived vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO). Diminished NO bioavailability can have deleterious effects on endothelial function. The endothelium is a heterogeneous tissue; therefore, a comprehensive assessment of endothelial function is crucial to understand the significance of hypoxia-induced endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that acute hypoxia would have a deleterious effect on microvascular and large vessel endothelial function. Twenty-nine healthy adults [24 (SD = 4 ) years of age] completed normoxic and hypoxic [inspired O2 fraction = 0.209] trials in this double-blinded, counterbalanced crossover study. After 30 min, we assessed the laser Doppler imaging-determined perfusion response to iontophoresis of ACh as a measure of endothelium-dependent microvascular function and iontophoresis of sodium nitroprusside as a measure of endothelium-independent microvascular function. After 60 min, we assessed brachial flow-mediated dilatation as a measure of large vessel endothelial function. Thirty minutes of hypoxia reduced endothelium-dependent microvascular function determined by the perfusion response to ACh (median difference (x̃∆) = −109% {interquartile range: 542.7}, P < 0.05), but not endothelium-independent microvascular function determined by the perfusion response to sodium nitroprusside (x̃∆ = 69% {interquartile range: 453.7}, P = 0.6). In addition, 60 min of hypoxia reduced allometrically scaled flow-mediated dilatation compared with normoxia (urn:x-wiley:09580670:media:eph13011:eph13011-math-0001 [95% CI = −1.80, −0.58 (Confidence Intervals)]%, P < 0.001). The decrease in microvascular endothelial function was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (r = 0.45, P = 0.02). In conclusion, acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia significantly reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilatory capacity in small and large vessels. Collectively, these findings highlight the sensitivity of the microvascular circulation to hypoxic insult, particularly in those with poor cardiorespiratory fitness.
Keywords
- Cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelium, Iontophoresis, Nitric Oxide, Vasodilation
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1699-1709 |
Journal | Experimental Physiology |
Volume | 106 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 25 May 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2021 |
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