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Age protects from harmful effects produced by chronic intermittent hypoxia
M Quintero1,2, E Olea1,2, S V Conde3
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Valladolid and IBGM/CSIC, Valladolid, Spain.
The Journal of Physiology
|January 12, 2016
Summary
Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) significantly impacts young rats by increasing sympathetic activity and causing hypertension. Aged rats show minimal effects, suggesting age-related resilience to OSAS-induced pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Aging Research
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) affects 3-7% of adults, increasing with age and linked to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuropsychiatric issues.
- Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) models OSA's recurrent hypoxia, triggering sympathetic overactivity and oxidative stress via the carotid body (CB).
- The reduced clinical manifestation of OSAS in older patients suggests age-related protective mechanisms against CIH effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of CIH on young and aged rats.
- To investigate age-dependent differences in CB responses, sympathetic activity, and oxidative stress.
- To understand why OSAS is less clinically apparent in older individuals.
Main Methods:
- Experimental animals (young and aged rats) were exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH).
- Carotid body (CB) sensory responses, ventilation, plasma catecholamines, renal sympathetic activity, and oxidative stress markers (aconitase/fumarase ratio, superoxide dismutase activity) were measured.
- Mean arterial blood pressure was monitored as a key outcome.
Main Results:
- In young rats, CIH amplified CB responses, reduced ventilation, increased sympathetic activity, and induced oxidative stress, leading to hypertension.
- In aged rats, CIH had minimal impact on CB, ventilation, sympathetic activity, and redox status.
- Aged rats had higher baseline blood pressure, which was not further increased by CIH, unlike in young rats.
Conclusions:
- Age significantly modulates the physiological response to chronic intermittent hypoxia, a key factor in OSAS.
- Young rats exhibit heightened sympathetic and oxidative responses to CIH, resulting in hypertension.
- Aged rats display resilience to CIH, with blunted sympathetic and oxidative stress responses, potentially explaining milder OSAS symptoms in this demographic.
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