Beta blockade in the compensation for bed-rest cardiovascular deconditioning: physiologic and pharmacologic...

Beta-adrenergic blockade using intravenous propranolol was evaluated as a countermeasure for bedrest-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. After propranolol administration, tolerance to a maximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP) test after bed rest improved to at least the -70 mm Hg level; following this, there was a sharp decrease in tolerance time. Propranolol decreased mean tolerance time by 36% (17.7 +/- 2.4 to 11.5 +/- 2.3 minutes) before bed rest, and by only half as much (16.6%) after bed rest (14.4 +/- 2.2 to 12.0 +/- 2.3 minutes). Systemic vascular resistance was maintained and even slightly increased after propranolol despite a decrease in cardiac output, indicating beta 2-adrenergic blockade. Heart rates at all levels of LBNP were lower during beta blockade, yet increases occurred with successive LBNP steps, both before and after bed rest, indicating withdrawal of parasympathetic nervous system influences. Results support the use of propranolol in small dosages as a countermeasure after bed rest, and the findings may also be extrapolated to space-flight deconditioning.