Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
Physiological and catecholamine response to sympathetic stimulation in turner syndrome
Nehama Zuckerman-Levin1, Oren Zinder, Avital Greenberg
1Pediatric Endocrinology, Meyer Children's Hospital, Haifa, Israel. zuckerln@netvision.net.il
Objective:
Women with Turner syndrome have increased heart rate and high blood pressure (BP), and have been described as having high tolerance for emotional stress. We hypothesized that women with Turner syndrome have reduced catecholaminergic and physiological response to sympathetic stimulation, and that changes in BP and heart rate are related to their catecholamine response to sympathetic stimulation.
Design And Patients:
Ten young women with Turner syndrome, age 17-34 years were the subjects of this study. Their response to sympathetic stimulation was compared to a group of 10 age-matched healthy women.
Measurements:
After a period of 30 min resting, subjects and controls were subjected to an escalating series of sympathetic stimulation: orthostatic, cold pressor and exercise, and their plasma catecholamines and haemodynamic response were monitored and compared to resting levels.
Results:
Resting heart rate was higher in Turner syndrome patients at 83 +/- 9 beats per min (bpm, mean +/- SD), as compared to controls (74 +/- 10 bpm, P < 0.05). Their supine BP was also higher at 122 +/- 9/84 +/- 6 vs. 106 +/- 11/70 +/- 9 mmHg (P < 0.02/< 0.02). The corresponding resting norepinephrine, but not epinephrine, was higher in Turner syndrome patients (2.54 +/- 1.09 nmol/l) as compared to controls (1.69 +/- 0.55 nmol/l, P < 0.02). In response to orthostatic stimulation and cold pressor test the systolic, but not the diastolic BP or heart rate, increased in Turner syndrome patients but not in the control group (P < 0.01). The change in blood catecholamine levels was comparable in both groups. Their physiological response to exercise was normal. Yet, the exercise-induced surge of norepinephrine and epinephrine in Turner syndrome patients was lower (P < 0.02).
Conclusions:
Turner syndrome is associated with dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), leading to tachycardia and high BP, increased resting norepinephrine levels, and a greater tolerance of the cathecholamine response to exercise.
More Related Videos
08:41Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2019
10:19Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease
Published on: August 22, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:16Sympathetic Activation
01:27Sympathetic Pathways: Collateral Ganglia and Adrenal Medulla
Collateral Ganglia
Sympathetic preganglionic axons reach the collateral ganglia along the route of splanchnic nerves. These nerves bypass the sympathetic trunk and communicate with sympathetic postganglionic neurons housed in the prevertebral ganglia. These ganglia supply the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity.
The greater splanchnic nerve, formed by the...
01:31Sympathetic Signaling
Sympathetic preganglionic fibers release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) onto the ganglionic neurons in the...
01:25The Sympathetic Nervous System
01:27Adrenergic Neurons: Neurotransmission
Synthesis: Catecholamine synthesis requires tyrosine, which is taken...
01:37Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis