Abstract
This study examined the effects of hypoxia (80% arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation for 20 min) and the accompanying changes in heart rate and blood pressure on two components of arterial stiffness in healthy men. Augmentation index (AIx) and time to reflection (Tr) representing measures of muscular artery and aortic stiffness, respectively, were continuously measured. At first, subjects were exposed to either hypoxia (n = 12) or room air (n = 5). During early hypoxia AIx increased by 6% before decreasing to baseline. After hypoxia AIx decreased by a further 6%. In contrast there was no change in Tr. Six subjects were then exposed to hypoxia following infusion with the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG-mono-methyl-l-arginine (L-NMMA) or saline. During hypoxia AIx decreased by 12% following saline but increased by 14% after L-NMMA and Tr did not change. These findings suggest that hypoxia may induce NO-mediated vasodilatation of small muscular arteries but not the aorta.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Dr. Guy Marks and Dr. Keith Wong for statistical advice. This research was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Grant Number 301936, Pfizer Cardio Vascular Lipid (CVL) Grant and University of Sydney Postgraduate Award (UPA).
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Vedam, H., Phillips, C.L., Wang, D. et al. Short-term hypoxia reduces arterial stiffness in healthy men. Eur J Appl Physiol 105, 19–25 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0868-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0868-6