Sympathetic control of hemodynamics during moderate head-up tilt in human subjects.

To confirm sympathetic control of hemodynamics during postural change, sympathetic nerve activity supplying the anterior tibial muscle (MSNA) was measured by microneurography and muscle blood flow (MBF) by the xenon washout method during graded head-up tilt from 0 degrees horizontal to 30 degrees in 5 degrees increments. MSNA was represented as the increase in burst rate with increased tilt angle. The increments of MSNA from 0 degree horizontal were statistically significant at all tilt angles. MBF decreased gradually with increasing tilt angle, with no difference noted from 5 to 15 degrees, but a significant decrease between 20 and 30 degrees. Mean blood pressure remained unchanged during graded tilt. The heart rate did not increase until a tilt angle of 10 degrees, with increments becoming significant beyond 15 degrees. These results demonstrated that MSNA plays an important role in hemodynamic regulation during incremental changes in posture, while tilt angle increased HR and other control mechanisms that may be involves.

Central venous pressure in humans during microgravity.

Based on the results of head-down simulation studies and the results of parabolic flights, the hypothesis was tested that central venous pressure (CVP) in humans increases during microgravity (weightlessness) compared with during the ground-based supine position. CVP was recorded with an intravascular pressure transducer in seven healthy humans during short (20-s) periods of microgravity created by parabolic-flight maneuvers and in one astronaut before, during, and up to 3 h after launch of the Spacelab D-2 mission (Space Transport System-55). When the subjects were supine during the parabolic maneuver, CVP decreased during microgravity from 6.5 +/- 1.3 to 5.0 +/- 1.4 mmHg (P < 0.05). during the Spacelab D-2 mission, CVP was 6.2 mmHg during the initial minutes of microgravity, which was very similar to the value of 6.5 mmHg in the supine position 3.5 h before launch of the space shuttle. During the subsequent 3 h of weightlessness, CVP during rest varied between 2.0 and 6.2 mmHg. We conclude that CVP during short (20-s) and longer (3-h) periods of microgravity is close to or below that of the supine position on the ground.

Relative role of low- and high pressure reflexes on sympathetic activity in humans during simulated gravitational stress.

In order to determine the relative role of low- and high-pressure reflexes, respectively, on forearm sympathetic nerve activity (fSNA), 10 normal male subjects underwent a 4-step (5 min each) graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) from -10 to -50 mmHg. Central venous pressure (CVP) and stroke volume gradually decreased (p<0.05), and arterial pulse pressure (PP) abruptly decreased at LBNP of -50 mmHg. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) remained unchanged. Forearm venous plasma norepinephrine concentration (fvNE) increased significantly at LBNP of -35 mmHg (p<0.05) and with a further sharp increase during LBNP of -50 mmHg (p<0.05). High degrees of intra-individual correlations were observed between changes in Log [fvNE] and CVP (r-values from -0.78 to -0.96, p<0.01). We conclude that low-pressure reflexes are the major determinants of fSNA during non-hypotensive gravitational stress (MAP and PP unchanged). When the gravitational stress is more pronounced, a decrease in PP further augments fSNA through inhibition of high-pressure arterial baroreflexes.

Volume-homeostatic mechanisms in humans during a 12-h posture change.

On one day six male subjects underwent an upright seated (SEAT) study, and on another day they were subjected to a head-down tilt of 3 degrees (HDT). Compared with SEAT, HDT induced prompt increases in central venous pressure (CVP) from -0.5 +/- 0.8 to 8.3 +/- 0.3 mmHg (P < 0.001) and in arterial pulse pressure of 8-18 mmHg (P < 0.001). CVP stabilized after 6 h at levels 2.4-2.8 mmHg below the peak value. Simultaneously, renal sodium excretion gradually increased over the initial 5 h of HDT and stabilized at a level approximately 125 mumol/min over that of SEAT (P < 0.001). Urine flow rate and solute free water clearance increased during the initial 2-6 h of HDT (P < 0.001) but returned to the level of SEAT thereafter. We concluded that CVP is slightly reduced over 12 h of HDT and that a clear temporal dissociation exists between renal sodium and water handling. We suggest that the combined effect of the sustained suppressions of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone and norepinephrine concentrations constitutes a mechanism of the increase in renal sodium excretion.

Circulation, kidney function, and volume-regulating hormones during prolonged water immersion in humans.

To investigate whether prolonged water immersion (WI) results in reduction of central blood volume and attenuation of renal fluid and electrolyte excretion, these variables were measured in connection with 12 h of immersion. On separate days, nine healthy males were investigated before, during, and after 12 h of WI to the neck or during appropriate control conditions. Central venous pressure, stroke volume, renal sodium (UNaV) and fluid excretion increased on initiation of WI and thereafter gradually declined but were still elevated compared with control values at the 12th h of WI. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in plasma initially increased threefold during WI and thereafter declined to preimmersion levels, whereas plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and norepinephrine remained constantly suppressed. It is concluded that, compared with the initial increases, central blood volume (central venous pressure and stroke volume) is reduced during prolonged WI and renal fluid and electrolyte excretion is attenuated. UNaV is still increased at the 12th h of WI, whereas renal water excretion returns to control values within 7 h. The WI-induced changes in ANP, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and norepinephrine may all contribute to the initial increase in UNaV. The results suggest, however, that the attenuation of UNaV during the later stages of WI is due to the decrease in ANP release.

Plasma volume, fluid shifts, and renal responses in humans during 12 h of head-out water immersion.

Changes in plasma volume (PV) throughout 12 h of thermoneutral (34.5 degrees C) water immersion (WI) were evaluated in eight subjects by an improved Evans blue (EB) technique and by measurements of hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and plasma protein concentrations (Pprot). Appropriate time control studies (n = 6) showed no measurable change in PV. At 30 min of immersion, EB measurements demonstrated an increase in PV of 16 +/- 2% (457 +/- 70 ml). Calculations, however, based on concomitant changes in Hct, Hb, and Pprot showed an increase in PV of only 6.9 +/- 0.9 to 10.0 +/- 0.8% at 30 min of WI. PV values based on EB measurements subsequently declined throughout WI to (but not below) the preimmersion level. Concomitantly, changes in PV calculated from Pprot values remained increased, whereas estimations of changes in PV based on Hct and Hb values returned to prestudy levels after 4 h of immersion. It is concluded that PV initially increases by 16 +/- 2% during WI and does not decline below preimmersion and control levels during 12 h of immersion despite a loss of 0.9 +/- 0.2 liter of body fluid. Furthermore, changes in Hct, Hb, and Pprot do not provide accurate measures of the changes in PV during WI in humans.

Repeated plasma volume determination with the Evans Blue dye dilution technique: the method and a computer program.

This paper describes a reliable multiple sample Evans Blue dye dilution technique and a Pascal program which computes plasma and blood volume on the basis of this technique. The program performs needed corrections and dye disappearance curve fitting. It provides menu-driven facilities for data correction, graphic display of the dye disappearance curve, and print-out of all the involved data. Means +/- S.E.M. for three plasma volume determinations in each of six resting subjects were: 3239 +/- 96 ml, 3189 +/- 81 ml, and 3187 +/- 102 ml. The differences were not statistically significant.

Telescience testbed in human space physiology.

The present telescience testbed study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of physiological experimentation under restricted conditions such as during simulated weightlessness induced by using a water immersion facility, a reduced capacity of laboratory facilities, a delay and desynchronization of communication between investigator and operator, restrictions of different kinds of experiments practiced by only one operator following a limited time line and so on. The three day's experiments were carried out following the same protocols. The operators were changed every day, but was the same the first and the third day. The operators were both medical doctors but not all round experts in the physiological experimentation. The experimental objectives were: 1) ECG changes by changing water immersion levels, 2) blood pressure changes, 3) ultrasonic Echo-cardiographic changes, 4) laser Doppler skin blood flowmetry in a finger, 5) blood sampling to examine blood electrolytic and humoral changes. The effectiveness of the testbed experiment was assessed by evaluating the quality of the obtained data and estimating the friendliness of the operation of the telescience to investigators and operators.

pH effect on the COHb absorption spectrum: importance for calibration of the OSM3 and measurement of circulating hemoglobin and blood volume.

An easy method to measure blood volume is clinically needed. We used carbon monoxide (CO) and the OSM3 to measure circulating hemoglobin and blood volume with the indicator dilution principle. 50 mL of CO was administered into a closed rebreathing system and taken up via the lungs, and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood was calculated from the increase in carboxyhemoglobin fraction after 10 min. Blood volume was calculated by division with the concentration of hemoglobin. We observed that the absorption spectrum of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) depends on pH and pCO2, which must be controlled when very accurate spectrophotometry is necessary. The bias is 3% COHb per pH unit during calibration of the OSM3, which may be permissible for patients with CO poisoning, but not for the present purpose. With this in mind the method is very accurate, precise and simple.

Human cardiovascular reactions to simulated hypovolaemia, modified by the opiate antagonist naloxone.

Six healthy males were exposed to 20 mm Hg lower body negative pressure (LBNP) for 8 min followed by 40 mm Hg LBNP for 8 min. Naloxone (0.1 mg.kg-1) was injected intravenously during a 1 h resting period after which the LBNP protocol was repeated. Systolic, mean, and diastolic arterial blood pressures (SAP, MAP, DAP), and central venous pressure (CVP) were obtained using indwelling catheters. Cardiac output (CO), forearm blood flow (FBF), heart rate (HR), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), and electromechanical systole (EMS) were measured non-invasively. Pulse pressure (PP), stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR), forearm vascular resistance (FVR), systolic ejection rate (SER), pre-ejection period (PEP), PEP/LVET and indices for the systolic time intervals (LVETI, EMSI, PEPI) were calculated. During the second LBNP exposure, only two parameters differed from the pre-injection values: DAP at LBNP = 40 mm Hg increased from 60.0 +/- 4.8 mm Hg to 64.8 +/- 4.1 mm Hg (N = 4, p less than 0.02) and LVETI at LBNP = 20 mm Hg increased from 384.4 +/- 5.2 ms to 396.8 +/- 6.2 ms (N = 6, p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Central venous pressure in humans during short periods of weightlessness.

Central venous pressure (CVP) was measured in 14 males during 23.3 +/- 0.6 s (mean +/- SE) of weightlessness (0.00 +/- 0.05 G) achieved in a Gulfstream-3 jet aircraft performing parabolic flight maneuvers and during either 60 or 120 s of +2 Gz (2.0 +/- 0.1 Gz). CVP was obtained using central venous catheters and strain-gauge pressure transducers. Heart rate (HR) was measured simultaneously in seven of the subjects. Measurements were compared with values obtained inflight at 1 G with the subjects in the supine (+1 Gx) and upright sitting (+1 Gz) positions, respectively. CVP was 2.6 +/- 1.5 mmHg during upright sitting and 5.0 +/- 0.7 mmHg in the supine position. During weightlessness, CVP increased significantly to 6.8 +/- 0.8 mmHg (P less than 0.005 compared with both upright sitting and supine inflight). During +2 Gz, CVP was 2.8 +/- 1.4 mmHg and only significantly lower than CVP during weightlessness (P less than 0.05). HR increased from 65 +/- 7 beats/min at supine and 70 +/- 5 beats/min during upright sitting to 79 +/- 7 beats/min (P less than 0.01 compared with supine) during weightlessness and to 80 +/- 6 beats/min (P less than 0.01 compared with upright sitting and P less than 0.001 compared with supine) during +2 Gz. We conclude that the immediate onset of weightlessness induces a significant increase in CVP, not only compared with the upright sitting position but also compared with the supine position at 1 G.