Ventilatory response to mechanoreceptor activation not altered in human hypertension

The purpose of this study was to determine if the ventilatory responses during mechanically sensitive afferent stimulation were augmented in hypertension (HTN). Participants with HTN (n = 11; 52 ± 12 yrs; 27 ± 3 kg/m²) and controls (CTL, n = 11; 56 ± 12 yrs; 27 ± 4 kg/m²) were recruited. Following a resting period, the muscle mechanically sensitive afferents were stimulated with passive leg movement for 30-seconds. Ventilatory variables were measured (breath-by-breath) at rest and during passive leg movement protocols. All data was analyzed with a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. For ventilation and breathing frequency, there were significant main effects of time (both, p < 0.01), but no significant main effects of group or interaction (all, p > 0.67). There were no significant main effects of time, group, or interaction for tidal volume (all, p > 0.13). These data support that mechanically sensitive afferent stimulation does not elicit an augmented ventilatory response in adults with HTN.