Contribution of sensory nerves to cutaneous reactive hyperaemia in non-Hispanic Black and White young adults

What is the central question of this study? Does cutaneous sensory nerve-mediated vasodilatation differ between non-Hispanic Black and White young adults? What is the main finding and its importance? The magnitude of cutaneous reactive hyperaemia is lower in non-Hispanic Black relative to non-Hispanic White young adults, but the overall sensory nerve contribution is the same, suggesting that sensory nerve function is similar in both non-Hispanic Black and White young adults.

The aim of this study was to assess cutaneous sensory nerve function, independent of nitric oxide, in non-Hispanic Black and White young adults. We tested the hypothesis that cutaneous reactive hyperaemia and sensory nerve-mediated vasodilatation would be lower in non-Hispanic Black young adults relative to non-Hispanic White young adults. Twenty-four participants who self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (n = 12) or non-Hispanic White (n = 12) were recruited. All participants underwent three bouts of reactive hyperaemia. An index of skin blood flow was measured continuously using laser-Doppler flowmetry at a control site and at a site treated with topical 4% lignocaine to inhibit sensory nerve function. Peak reactive hyperaemia was lower in non-Hispanic Black relative to non-Hispanic White participants (P < 0.001). Total reactive hyperaemia was lower in non-Hispanic Black [mean (SD); control, 4085 (955)%CVC_max  s; lignocaine, 2127 (639) percent maximal cutaneous vascular conductance * seconds, %CVC_max  s] relative to non-Hispanic White [control: 6820 (1179)%CVC_max  s; lignocaine, 3573 (712)%CVC_max  s] participants (P < 0.001 for both sites). There was no difference between groups for the calculated contribution of sensory nerves to either the peak [non-Hispanic Black, 25 (14)%; non-Hispanic White, 19 (13)%] or total reactive hyperaemic response [non-Hispanic Black, 48 (10)%; non-Hispanic White, 47 (10)%]. These data suggest that cutaneous reactive hyperaemia is lower in non-Hispanic Black young adults, but the sensory nerve contribution is similar in non-Hispanic Black and White young adults.