Sympathetic neural control of integrated cardiovascular function: Insights from measurement of human sympathetic nerve activity

Abstract

Sympathetic neural control of cardiovascular function is essential for normal regulation of blood pressure and tissue perfusion. In the present review we discuss sympathetic neural mechanisms in human cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology, with a focus on evidence from direct recordings of sympathetic nerve activity using microneurography. Measurements of sympathetic nerve activity to skeletal muscle have provided extensive information regarding reflex control of blood pressure and blood flow in conditions ranging from rest to postural changes, exercise, and mental stress in populations ranging from healthy controls to patients with hypertension and heart failure. Measurements of skin sympathetic nerve activity have also provided important insights into neural control, but are often more difficult to interpret since the activity contains several types of nerve impulses with different functions. Although most studies have focused on group mean differences, we provide evidence that individual variability in sympathetic nerve activity is important to the ultimate understanding of these integrated physiological mechanisms.

Skin conductance peaks could result from changes in vital parameters unrelated to pain

“…PFI, Peripheral Flow Index; spo 2 , peripheral oxygen saturation. (8). Other conditions/ receptors that influence the sympathetic nerve activity are arousal, stress, respiration, sleep, cardiopulmonary receptors, and pain.…”

“…The primary function of the eccrine sweat glands is to enable evaporative heat loss in the autoregulation of body temperature. The following receptors and simple maneuvers influence skin sympathetic nerve traffic: temperature receptors in the central nervous system and skin, arousal and stress, respiration, cardiopulmonary receptors, sleep, and pain (8). However, Rutter (9) reports that palmar and plantar sweat glands respond more to emotional stimuli than to thermal stimuli.…”

Novel Approaches in Hypertension Treatment - Modulation of the Sympathetic Overactivity

“…These afferent nerves have been extensively described for the kidney but can also be found in the heart [15]. The pathogenesis of this sympathetic activation was elucidated in several animal models [16].…”

“…Orthostatic reaction is a well examined example of immediate activation of the sympathetic nervous system [32]. Besides pain, stress and urgency, changes in temperature, blood oxygenation and ambient sound level lead to a change in sympathetic activity [15,32]. Instead of immediate alterations of sympathetic activity, it appears feasible that long-term change in sympathetic activity is the underlying mechanism which contributes to the development of hypertension.…”

Effects of Antihypertensive Drugs on Skin Blood Flow as an Indicator of Sympathetic Responses to Mental Stress in Hypertensive Patients

“…L-type CCBs increase sympathetic activity [7] [8] [9] and ARBs have a potent suppressive effect on sympathetic activity [10] [11]. In the present study, the response of blood pressure, pulse rate [12], and skin blood flow to the CWC test was evaluated to determine the sympathetic response to mental stress in essential hypertensive patients treated with different types of antihypertensive drugs.…”