Mechanisms of Elevated Cutaneous Vascular Tone in College-Aged Black Individuals

Hypertension prevalence is greatest in the US non-Hispanic Black population, possibly through reduced vascular function. Although heightened cutaneous vascular tone and vasoconstrictor responsiveness have been reported in Black individuals, the underlying physiological mechanisms remain unknown.

Thirteen Black (6 women, 22±2 years) and 10 non-Hispanic White (4 women, 25±4 years) participants underwent intradermal perfusion of norepinephrine alone (10^-8 to 10^-2 M; control) or coinfused with ascorbic acid (general antioxidant), L-NAME (N^ω-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester; a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), or combined ascorbic acid and l-NAME. Cutaneous vascular conductance was used to estimate vascular tone.

Non-Hispanic Black participants had lower absolute conductance at the control (P=0.012), but not ascorbic acid or l-NAME sites (both P>0.123). Black participants also had lower absolute baseline conductance at all sites (0.26±0.13 versus 0.37±0.14 flux/mm Hg) and across the norepinephrine perfusions (≈51% lower; both P<0.05). At baseline and across norepinephrine perfusions, ascorbic acid increased absolute conductance compared with control in both groups (Black: +94%; White: +39%), while l-NAME reduced absolute conductance in the White participants only (-43%; all P<0.05). Across all doses, control relative conductance was not different between the groups (P>0.05), though the ascorbic acid and combined sites in the Black participants and all sites in the White participants produced greater relative conductance than control (all P<0.05).

These data suggest greater tonic, but not norepinephrine-induced, cutaneous vasoconstriction in Black individuals, which appears to be mediated by greater oxidative stress contributing to reduced nitric oxide bioavailability.