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Related Experiment Videos

Competition between cutaneous active vasoconstriction and active vasodilation during exercise in humans.

D L Kellogg1, J M Johnson, W A Kosiba

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7756.

The American Journal of Physiology
|October 11, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Exercise initiation triggers skin vasoconstriction primarily through increased active vasoconstrictor nerve activity, not reduced vasodilation. This finding holds true in both normal and high body temperature conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Thermoregulation

Background:

  • Cutaneous vasoconstriction is a known response to exercise initiation, particularly during hyperthermia.
  • The underlying mechanisms, whether increased vasoconstrictor activity or withdrawal of vasodilator activity, remain debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether exercise-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction is mediated by enhanced active vasoconstrictor tone or reduced active vasodilator activity.
  • To differentiate the roles of sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves versus withdrawal of sympathetic vasodilation during exercise.

Main Methods:

  • Laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to monitor forearm blood flow.
  • Local iontophoresis of bretylium was employed to selectively block noradrenergic vasoconstrictor nerves.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (LDF/Mean Arterial Pressure) and analyzed during cold stress, normothermic exercise, and hyperthermic exercise.

    • Main Results:

    • Cold stress confirmed successful vasoconstrictor blockade at bretylium-treated sites.
    • During exercise in normothermia and hyperthermia, CVC decreased significantly at untreated sites but remained unchanged at bretylium-treated sites.
    • These findings indicate that bretylium effectively prevented exercise-induced vasoconstriction at the blocked sites.

    Conclusions:

    • Exercise initiation induces cutaneous vasoconstriction predominantly through increased active vasoconstrictor nerve activity.
    • Reduced active vasodilator activity plays a minimal role in this exercise-induced vasoconstrictive response.
    • This mechanism is consistent across both normothermic and hyperthermic conditions.