Brief exposure to -2 Gz reduces cerebral oxygenation in response to stand test

The aim of the present experiment was to determine whether a single 30 s of exposure to -2 Gz (foot-to-head inertial forces) as orthostatic stress results in altered brain oxygenation control in response to active standing. Cerebral oxygenation (oxy-Hb), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean arterial blood pressure at brain level (MAPbrain) were recorded in 12 subjects in supine and then in standing position (10 min), before and after -2 Gz centrifugation. The decrease in oxy-Hb (-5 +/- 9 vs. -9 +/- 10 microM, P < 0.001) and in CBV (-2 +/- 11 vs. -4 +/- 12 microM, P < 0.05) upon standing was more important after -2 Gz centrifugation, with unchanged MAPbrain (-6 +/- 7 vs. -6 +/- 9 mmHg). These findings suggest a downward shift in the static cerebral autoregulation curve.