Aging and aerobic fitness affect the contribution of noradrenergic sympathetic adrenergic nerves to the rapid cutaneous vasodilator response to local heating

TEW, Garry, SAXTON, J, KLONIZAKIS, M, MOSS, J, RUDDOCK, Alan and HODGES, GJ (2011). Aging and aerobic fitness affect the contribution of noradrenergic sympathetic adrenergic nerves to the rapid cutaneous vasodilator response to local heating. Journal of Applied Physiology, 110 (5), 1264-1270.

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Abstract

Sedentary aging results in a diminished rapid cutaneous vasodilator response to local heating. We investigated whether this diminished response was due to altered contributions of noradrenergic sympathetic nerves by assessing 1) the age-related decline and 2) the effect of aerobic fitness. Using laser-Doppler flowmetry, we measured skin blood flow (SkBF) in young (24 ± 1 yr) and older (64 ± 1 yr) endurance-trained and sedentary men (n = 7 per group) at baseline and during 35 min of local skin heating to 42°C at 1) untreated forearm sites, 2) forearm sites treated with bretylium tosylate (BT), which prevents neurotransmitter release from noradrenergic sympathetic nerves, and 3) forearm sites treated with yohimbine + propranolol (YP), which antagonizes α- and β-adrenergic receptors. SkBF was converted to cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC = SkBF/mean arterial pressure) and normalized to maximal CVC (%CVCmax) achieved by skin heating to 44°C. Pharmacological agents were administered using microdialysis. In the young trained group, the rapid vasodilator response was reduced at BT and YP sites (P < 0.05); by contrast, in the young sedentary and older trained groups, YP had no effect (P > 0.05), but BT did (P > 0.05). Neither BT nor YP affected the rapid vasodilator response in the older sedentary group (P > 0.05). These data suggest that the age-related reduction in the rapid vasodilator response is due to an impairment of sympathetic-dependent mechanisms, which can be partly attenuated with habitual aerobic exercise. Rapid vasodilation involves noradrenergic neurotransmitters in young trained men and nonadrenergic sympathetic cotransmitters (e.g., neuropeptide Y) in young sedentary and older trained men, possibly as a compensatory mechanism. Finally, in older sedentary men, the rapid vasodilation appears not to involve the sympathetic system.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	UoA26
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Centre for Sport and Exercise Science
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.​1152/​japplphysiol.​01423.​2010
Page Range:	1264-1270
Depositing User:	Rachel Davison
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2011 08:56
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 20:45
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/3676

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