Electrochemical and DFT Studies of the Pistacia Integerrima Gall Extract: An Eco-friendly Approach towards the Corrosion of Steel in Acidic Medium.

A novel application of the Pistacia integerrima gall extract as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor is reported in this study. The major phytochemicals present in the gall extract, namely pistagremic acid, ß-sitosterol, pistiphloroglucinyl ether, pistaciaphenyl ester, naringenin, and 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one, play key roles in its anticorrosive behavior on steel in aggressive media. Several approaches were used to study the corrosion prevention activity of steel in 1 M H2SO4, including weight loss analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and density functional theory (DFT). At 2000 mg L-1, the highest efficiency of 92.19% was observed in 1 M H2SO4. An SEM study was conducted to validate the surface coverage of the metal surface. DFT studies revealed several nucleophilic regions present in the phytochemicals of the inhibitor, which supported the favorable nucleophilicity. Corrosion studies have not been performed on this sample. Phytochemicals make it an effective corrosion inhibitor, and its extraction process utilizes distilled water, making it better than other inhibitors. It has been proven that the obtained values of ΔEInhDFT for pistiphloroglucinyl, pistaciaphenyl ether, and naringenin organic compounds were very low, confirming the high reactivity of these corrosion inhibitors. The order of the values of ΔEInhDFT is as follows: pistaciaphenyl ether > pistiphloroglucinyl ether > naringenin organic compound; this suggests that pistaciaphenyl ether is more reactive than the other compounds. In this study, P. integerrima gall extract emerges as a novel and highly effective corrosion resistance agent in 1 M H2SO4, chosen for its relevance to acid pickling and cleaning processes.

Glia-specific expression of neuropeptide receptor Lgr4 regulates development and adult physiology in Drosophila.

Similar to the human brain, Drosophila glia may well be divided into several subtypes that each carries out specific functions. Glial GPCRs play key roles in crosstalk between neurons and glia. Drosophila Lgr4 (dLgr4) is a human relaxin receptor homolog involved in angiogenesis, cardiovascular regulation, collagen remodeling, and wound healing. A recent study suggests that ilp7 might be the ligand for Lgr4 and regulates escape behavior of Drosophila larvae. Here we demonstrate that Drosophila Lgr4 expression in glial cells, not neurons, is necessary for early development, adult behavior, and lifespan. Reducing the Lgr4 level in glial cells disrupts Drosophila development, while knocking down other LGR family members in glia has no impact. Adult-specific knockdown of Lgr4 in glia but not neurons reduce locomotion, male reproductive success, and animal longevity. The investigation of how glial expression of Lgr4 contributes to this behavioral alteration will increase our understanding of how insulin signaling via glia selectively modulates neuronal activity and behavior.

Muscle metaboreflex stimulates the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex causing positive feedback amplification of sympathetic activity: effect of heart failure.

Exercise intolerance is a hallmark symptom of heart failure and to a large extent stems from reductions in cardiac output that occur due to the inherent ventricular dysfunction coupled with enhanced muscle metaboreflex-induced functional coronary vasoconstriction, which limits increases in coronary blood flow. This creates a further mismatch between O2 delivery and O2 demand, which may activate the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR), causing amplification of the already increased sympathetic activity in a positive-feedback fashion. We used our chronically instrumented conscious canine model to evaluate if chronic ablation of afferents responsible for the CSAR would attenuate the gain of muscle metaboreflex before and after induction of heart failure. After afferent ablation, the gain of the muscle metaboreflex control of mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced before (-239.5 ± 16 to -95.2 ± 8 mmHg/L/min) and after the induction of heart failure (-185.6 ± 14 to -95.7 ± 12 mmHg/L/min). Similar results were observed for the strength (gain) of muscle metaboreflex control of heart rate, cardiac output, and ventricular contractility. Thus, we conclude that the CSAR contributes significantly to the strength of the muscle metaboreflex in normal animals with heart failure serving as an effective positive-feedback amplifier thereby further increasing sympathetic activity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The powerful pressor responses from the CSAR arise via O2 delivery versus O2 demand imbalance. Muscle metaboreflex activation (MMA) simultaneously elicits coronary vasoconstriction (which is augmented in heart failure) and profound increases in cardiac work thereby upsetting oxygen balance. Whether MMA activates the CSAR thereby amplifying MMA responses is unknown. We observed that removal of the CSAR afferents attenuated the strength of the muscle metaboreflex in normal and subjects with heart failure.

Electrochemical and DFT studies of Terminalia bellerica fruit extract as an eco-friendly inhibitor for the corrosion of steel.

It is well known that metal corrosion causes serious economy losses worldwide. One of the most effective ways to prevent corrosion is the continuous development of high-efficient and environment-friendly corrosion inhibitors. Among the widely used organic and inorganic corrosion inhibitors, plant extracts are top candidates due to their nontoxic nature. The present study reports a novel application of the methanolic extract of Terminalia bellerica fruits as an environment friendly corrosion inhibitor for steel in sulphuric acid medium. The phytochemicals of the extract, namely Ellagic, Gallic, and Malic acids, play a key role of the anti-corrosive behavior of the extract. The corrosion prevention activity was studied on the steel in 1 M H2SO4 using a variety of approaches including weight loss analysis (WL), scanning electron microscope (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), density functional theory (DFT), natural bond orbital analysis (NBO), Fukui function and Monte Carlo simulations (MC). In 1 M H2SO4 solution, the maximum electrochemical inhibition efficiency of 91.79% was observed at 4000 mg/L concentration of the extract. The NBO analysis showed that the charge density of the double bonds and the oxygen atoms of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups of the phytochemicals lies on the top of the natural bond orbitals which promotes the anticorrosive properties of the investigated inhibitors. The surface coverage of steel was validated by SEM measurements. According to DFT studies, numerous nucleophilic regions were present in the active phytochemical constituents of the inhibitor, demonstrating their favorable nucleophilicity. The computed electronic structure of the phytochemicals revealed band gaps of 4.813, 5.444, and 7.562 eV for Ellagic, Gallic, and Malic acids respectively suggesting effective metal-inhibitor interactions. A good correlation between experimental and theoretical findings was addressed.

Neural control of the circulation during exercise in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Patients with heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) exhibit severe exercise intolerance that may be due, in part, to inappropriate cardiovascular and hemodynamic adjustments to exercise. Several neural mechanisms and locally released vasoactive substances work in concert through complex interactions to ensure proper adjustments to meet the metabolic demands of the contracting skeletal muscle. Specifically, accumulating evidence suggests that disease-related alterations in neural mechanisms (e.g., central command, exercise pressor reflex, arterial baroreflex, and cardiopulmonary baroreflex) contribute to heightened sympathetic activation and impaired ability to attenuate sympathetic vasoconstrictor responsiveness that may contribute to reduced skeletal muscle blood flow and severe exercise intolerance in patients with HFrEF. In contrast, little is known regarding these important aspects of physiology in patients with HFpEF, though emerging data reveal heightened sympathetic activation and attenuated skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise in this patient population that may be attributable to dysregulated neural control of the circulation. The overall goal of this review is to provide a brief overview of the current understanding of disease-related alterations in the integrative neural cardiovascular responses to exercise in both HFrEF and HFpEF phenotypes, with a focus on sympathetic nervous system regulation during exercise.

Blood flow restriction training activates the muscle metaboreflex during low-intensity sustained exercise.

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) employs partial vascular occlusion of exercising muscle and has been shown to increase muscle performance while using reduced workload and training time. Numerous studies have demonstrated that BFRT increases muscle hypertrophy, mitochondrial function, and beneficial vascular adaptations. However, changes in cardiovascular hemodynamics during the exercise protocol remain unknown, as most studies measured blood pressure before the onset and after the cessation of exercise. With reduced perfusion to the exercising muscle during BFRT, the resultant accumulation of metabolites within the ischemic muscle could potentially trigger a large reflex increase in blood pressure, termed the muscle metaboreflex. At low workloads, this pressor response occurs primarily via increases in cardiac output. However, when increases in cardiac output are limited (e.g., heart failure or during severe exercise), the reflex shifts to peripheral vasoconstriction as the primary mechanism to increase blood pressure, potentially increasing the risk of a cardiovascular event. Using our chronically instrumented conscious canine model, we utilized a 60% reduction in femoral blood pressure applied to the hindlimbs during steady-state treadmill exercise (3.2 km/h) to reproduce the ischemic environment observed during BFRT. We observed significant increases in heart rate (+19 ± 3 beats/min), stroke volume (+2.52 ± 1.2 mL), cardiac output (+1.21 ± 0.2 L/min), mean arterial pressure (+18.2 ± 2.4 mmHg), stroke work (+1.93 ± 0.2 L/mmHg), and nonischemic vascular conductance (+3.62 ± 1.7 mL/mmHg), indicating activation of the muscle metaboreflex.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) increases muscle mass, strength, and endurance. There has been minimal consideration of the reflex cardiovascular responses that could be elicited during BFRT sessions. We showed that during low-intensity exercise BFRT may trigger large reflex increases in blood pressure and sympathetic activity due to muscle metaboreflex activation. Thus, we urge caution when employing BFRT, especially in patients in whom exaggerated cardiovascular responses may occur that could cause sudden, adverse cardiovascular events.

Ventricular-Vascular Uncoupling in Heart Failure: Effects of Arterial Baroreflex-Induced Sympathoexcitation at Rest and During Exercise.

Autonomic alterations in blood pressure are primarily a result of arterial baroreflex modulation of systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output on a beat-by-beat basis. The combined central and peripheral control by the baroreflex likely acts to maintain efficient energy transfer from the heart to the systemic vasculature; termed ventricular-vascular coupling. This level of control is maintained whether at rest or during exercise in healthy subjects. During heart failure, the ventricular-vascular relationship is uncoupled and baroreflex dysfunction is apparent. We investigated if baroreflex dysfunction in heart failure exacerbated ventricular-vascular uncoupling at rest, and during exercise in response to baroreceptor unloading by performing bilateral carotid occlusions in chronically instrumented conscious canines. We observed in healthy subjects that baroreceptor unloading caused significant increases in effective arterial elastance (Ea) at rest (1.2 ± 0.3 mmHg/ml) and during exercise (1.3 ± 0.2 mmHg/ml) that coincided with significant increases in stroke work (SW) (1.5 ± 0.2 mmHg/ml) and (1.6 ± 0.2 mmHg/ml) suggesting maintained ventricular-vascular coupling. Heart Failure significantly increased the effect of baroreceptor unloading on Ea at rest (3.1 ± 0.7 mmHg/ml) and during exercise (2.3 ± 0.5 mmHg/ml) whereas no significant increases in stroke work occurred, thus signifying further ventricular-vascular uncoupling. We believe that the enhanced ventricular-vascular uncoupling observed during baroreceptor unloading only worsens the already challenged orthostatic and exercise tolerance and thereby contributes to poor exercise performance and quality of life for heart failure patients.

Influence of Age and Estradiol on Sympathetic Nerve Activity Responses to Exercise in Women.

INTRODUCTION: Postmenopausal women (PMW) display exaggerated increases in blood pressure (BP) during exercise, yet the mechanism(s) involved remain unclear. Moreover, research on the impact of menopausal changes in estradiol on cardiovascular control during exercise are limited. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that sympathetic responses during exercise are augmented in PMWcompared with young women (YW), and estradiol administration attenuates these responses. METHODS: Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured in 13 PMW (58 ± 1 yr) and 17 YW (22 ± 1 yr) during 2 min of isometric handgrip. Separately, MSNA and BP responses were measured during isometric handgrip in six PMW (53 ± 1 yr) before and after 1 month of transdermal estradiol (100 µg·d-1). A period of postexercise ischemia (PEI) to isolate muscle metaboreflex activation followed all handgrip bouts. RESULTS: Resting MAP was similar between PMW and YW, whereas MSNA was greater in PMW (23 ± 3 vs 8 ± 1 bursts per minute; P < 0.05). During handgrip, the increases in MSNA (PMW Δ16 ± 2 vs YW Δ6 ± 1 bursts per minute; P < 0.05) and MAP (PMW Δ18 ± 2 vs YW Δ12 ± 2 mm Hg; P < 0.05) were greater in PMW and remained augmented during PEI. Estradiol administration decreased resting MAP but not MSNA in PMW. Moreover, MSNA (PMW (-E2) Δ27 ± 8 bursts per minute versus PMW (+E2) Δ12 ± 5 bursts per minute; P < 0.05) and MAP (Δ31 ± 8 mm Hg vs Δ20 ± 6 mm Hg; P < 0.05) responses during handgrip were attenuated in PMW after estradiol administration. Likewise, MAP responses during PEI were lower after estradiol. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that PMW exhibit an exaggerated MSNA and BP response to isometric exercise, due in part to heightened metaboreflex activation. Furthermore, estradiol administration attenuated BP and MSNA responses to exercise in PMW.

Neurovascular Dysregulation During Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes.

Emerging evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes (T2D) may impair the ability to properly adjust the circulation during exercise with augmented blood pressure (BP) and an attenuated contracting skeletal muscle blood flow (BF) response being reported. This review provides a brief overview of the current understanding of these altered exercise responses in T2D and the potential underlying mechanisms, with an emphasis on the sympathetic nervous system and its regulation during exercise. The research presented support augmented sympathetic activation, heightened BP, reduced skeletal muscle BF, and impairment in the ability to attenuate sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction (i.e., functional sympatholysis) as potential drivers of neurovascular dysregulation during exercise in T2D. Furthermore, emerging evidence supporting a contribution of the exercise pressor reflex and central command is discussed along with proposed future directions for studies in this important area of research.

Attenuated Rapid-Onset Vasodilation to Forearm Muscle Contraction in Black Men.

PURPOSE: Non-Hispanic Black individuals have a blunted ability to vasodilate at rest compared with other racial groups. Limited studies have investigated blood flow responses to exercise in Black individuals. Recently, our laboratory demonstrated that Black men exhibit attenuated increases in forearm vascular conductance (FVC) during steady-state rhythmic handgrip. The mechanisms for this remain unknown. Herein, we used single muscle contractions, a modality that allows for assessment of rapid-onset vasodilation (ROV) independent of major elevations in shear stress, tissue metabolism, and systemic hemodynamics. METHODS: Ten young, healthy Black and White men performed single forearm contractions at 20%, 40%, and 60% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). In addition, cuff inflations were performed on the forearm to examine the contribution of mechanical compression to ROV. Forearm blood flow (FBF; duplex Doppler ultrasound), heart rate (ECG), and mean arterial pressure (Finometer) were continuously measured. FVC was calculated as FBF/mean arterial pressure. RESULTS: Baseline FVC (White men vs Black men, 0.75 ± 0.11 vs 0.80 ± 0.09 mL·min-1·mm Hg-1; P = 0.73), FBF, and MVCs (White men vs Black men, 54 ± 2 vs 54 ± 2 kg; P = 0.95) were similar between the groups. After single contractions, both groups exhibited intensity-dependent FVC and FBF increases during ROV; however, these responses were attenuated in the Black group at all intensities (e.g., 60%MVC FVC: White men vs Black men, +371% ± 37% vs +220% ± 23% baseline; P = 0.001). FVC and FBF responses to cuff inflation alone were also attenuated in Black individuals (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data indicate that Black men have an overall blunted ability to rapidly vasodilate compared with young White men.

Ventricular contraction and relaxation rates during muscle metaboreflex activation in heart failure: are they coupled?

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does the muscle metaboreflex affect the ratio of left ventricular contraction/relaxation rates and does heart failure impact this relationship. What is the main finding and its importance? The effect of muscle metaboreflex activation on the ventricular relaxation rate was significantly attenuated in heart failure. Heart failure attenuates the exercise and muscle metaboreflex-induced changes in the contraction/relaxation ratio. In heart failure, the reduced ability to raise cardiac output during muscle metaboreflex activation may not solely be due to attenuation of ventricular contraction but also alterations in ventricular relaxation and diastolic function. ABSTRACT: The relationship between contraction and relaxation rates of the left ventricle varies with exercise. In in vitro models, this ratio was shown to be relatively unaltered by changes in sarcomere length, frequency of stimulation, and ß-adrenergic stimulation. We investigated whether the ratio of contraction to relaxation rate is maintained in the whole heart during exercise and muscle metaboreflex activation and whether heart failure alters these relationships. We observed that in healthy subjects the ratio of contraction to relaxation increases from rest to exercise as a result of a higher increase in contraction relative to relaxation. During muscle metaboreflex activation the ratio of contraction to relaxation is significantly reduced towards 1.0 due to a large increase in relaxation rate matching contraction rate. In heart failure, contraction and relaxation rates are significantly reduced, and increases during exercise are attenuated. A significant increase in the ratio was observed from rest to exercise although baseline ratio values were significantly reduced close to 1.0 when compared to healthy subjects. There was no significant change observed between exercise and muscle metaboreflex activation nor was the ratio during muscle metaboreflex activation significantly different between heart failure and control. We conclude that heart failure reduces the muscle metaboreflex gain and contraction and relaxation rates. Furthermore, we observed that the ratio of the contraction and relaxation rates during muscle metaboreflex activation is not significantly different between control and heart failure, but significant changes in the ratio in healthy subjects due to increased relaxation rate were abolished in heart failure.

Functional sympatholysis is preserved in healthy young Black men during rhythmic handgrip exercise.

Black men have attenuated increases in forearm vascular conductance (FVC) and forearm blood flow (FBF) during moderate- and high-intensity rhythmic handgrip exercise compared with White men, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we tested for the first time the hypothesis that functional sympatholysis (i.e., attenuation of sympathetic vasoconstriction in the exercising muscles) is impaired in Black men compared with White men. Thirteen White and 14 Black healthy young men were studied. FBF (duplex Doppler ultrasound) and mean arterial pressure (MAP; Finometer) were measured at rest and during rhythmic handgrip exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction. FVC was calculated as FBF/MAP. Sympathetic activation was induced via lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at -20 Torr for 2 min at rest and from the 3rd to the 5th min of handgrip. Sympathetic vasoconstriction was assessed as percent reductions in FVC during LBNP. The groups presented similar resting FVC, FBF, and MAP. During LBNP at rest, reductions in FVC were not different between White (-35 ± 10%) and Black men (-32 ± 14%, P = 0.616), indicating similar reflex-induced sympathetic vasoconstriction. During handgrip exercise, there were minimal reductions in FVC with LBNP in either group (White: -1 ± 7%; Black: +1 ± 8%; P = 0.523), indicating functional sympatholysis in both groups. Thus, contrary to our hypothesis, our findings indicate a preserved functional sympatholysis in healthy young Black men compared with White men, suggesting that this mechanism does not appear to contribute to reduced exercise hyperemia during moderate-intensity rhythmic handgrip in this population.

Augmented resting beat-to-beat blood pressure variability in young, healthy, non-Hispanic black men.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? The prevalence of hypertension in black individuals exceeds that in other racial groups. Despite this well-known heightened risk, the underlying contributory factors remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that young black men would exhibit augmented beat-to-beat blood pressure variability compared with white men and that black men would exhibit augmented total peripheral resistance variability. What is the main finding and its importance? We demonstrate that young, healthy black men exhibit greater resting beat-to-beat blood pressure variability compared with their white counterparts, which is accompanied by greater variability in total peripheral resistance. These swings in blood pressure over time might contribute to the enhanced cardiovascular risk profile in black individuals. ABSTRACT: The prevalence of hypertension in black (BL) individuals exceeds that in other racial groups. Recently, resting beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) variability has been shown to predict cardiovascular risk and detect target organ damage better than ambulatory BP monitoring. Given the heightened risk in BL individuals, we hypothesized young BL men would exhibit augmented beat-to-beat BP variability compared with white (WH) men. Furthermore, given studies reporting reduced vasodilatation and augmented vasoconstriction in BL individuals, we hypothesized that BL men would exhibit augmented variability in total peripheral resistance (TPR). In 45 normotensive men (24 BL), beat-to-beat BP (Finometer) was measured during 10-20 min of quiet rest. Cardiac output and TPR were estimated (Modelflow method). Despite similar resting BP, BL men exhibited greater BP standard deviation (e.g. systolic BP SD; BL, 7.1 ± 2.2 mmHg; WH, 5.4 ± 1.5 mmHg; P = 0.006) compared with WH men, which was accompanied by a greater TPR SD (P = 0.003), but not cardiac output SD (P = 0.390). Other traditional measures of variability provided similar results. Histogram analysis indicated that BL men exhibited a greater percentage of cardiac cycles with BPs higher (> +10 mmHg higher) and lower (< -8 mmHg lower) than mean systolic BP compared with WH men (interaction, P < 0.001), which was accompanied by a greater percentage of cardiac cycles with high/low TPR (P < 0.001). In a subset of subjects (n = 30), reduced sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity was associated with augmented BP variability (r = -0.638, P < 0.001), whereas cardiac baroreflex sensitivity had no relationship (P = 0.447). Herein, we document an augmented beat-to-beat BP variability in young BL men, which coincided with fluctuations in vascular resistance and reduced sympathetic BRS.

Muscle metaboreflex-induced increases in effective arterial elastance: effect of heart failure.

Dynamic exercise elicits robust increases in sympathetic activity in part due to muscle metaboreflex activation (MMA), a pressor response triggered by activation of skeletal muscle afferents. MMA during dynamic exercise increases arterial pressure by increasing cardiac output via increases in heart rate, ventricular contractility, and central blood volume mobilization. In heart failure, ventricular function is compromised, and MMA elicits peripheral vasoconstriction. Ventricular-vascular coupling reflects the efficiency of energy transfer from the left ventricle to the systemic circulation and is calculated as the ratio of effective arterial elastance (Ea) to left ventricular maximal elastance (Emax). The effect of MMA on Ea in normal subjects is unknown. Furthermore, whether muscle metaboreflex control of Ea is altered in heart failure has not been investigated. We utilized two previously published methods of evaluating Ea [end-systolic pressure/stroke volume (EaPV)] and [heart rate × vascular resistance (EaZ)] during rest, mild treadmill exercise, and MMA (induced via partial reductions in hindlimb blood flow imposed during exercise) in chronically instrumented conscious canines before and after induction of heart failure via rapid ventricular pacing. In healthy animals, MMA elicits significant increases in effective arterial elastance and stroke work that likely maintains ventricular-vascular coupling. In heart failure, Ea is high, and MMA-induced increases are exaggerated, which further exacerbates the already uncoupled ventricular-vascular relationship, which likely contributes to the impaired ability to raise stroke work and cardiac output during exercise in heart failure.

Muscle pump-induced inhibition of sympathetic vasomotor outflow during low-intensity leg cycling is attenuated by muscle metaboreflex activation.

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) decreases during leg cycling at low intensity because of muscle pump-induced increases in venous return and loading of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors. However, MSNA increases during leg cycling when exercise is above moderate intensity or for a long duration, suggesting that the sympathoinhibitory effect of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex can be overridden by a powerful sympathoexcitatory drive, such as the skeletal muscle metaboreflex. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that high-intensity muscle metaboreflex activation attenuates muscle pump-induced inhibition of MSNA during leg cycling. MSNA (left radial nerve) was recorded during graded isolation of the muscle metaboreflex in the forearm with postexercise ischemia (PEI) after low (PEI-L)- and high (PEI-H)-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (20% and 40% maximum voluntary contraction, respectively). Leg cycling (15-20 W) was performed alone and during each PEI trial (PEI-L+Cycling, PEI-H+Cycling). Cycling alone induced a significant decrease in MSNA burst frequency (BF) and total activity (TA). MSNA BF and TA also decreased when cycling was performed during PEI-L. However, the magnitude of decrease in MSNA during PEI-L+Cycling [∆BF: -19 ± 2% (P < 0.001), ∆TA: -25 ± 4% (P < 0.001); mean ± SE] was less than that during cycling alone [∆BF: -39 ± 5% (P = 0.003), ∆TA: -45 ± 5% (P = 0.002)]. More importantly, MSNA did not decrease during cycling with PEI-H [∆BF: -1 ± 2% (P = 0.845), ∆TA: +2 ± 3% (P = 0.959)]. These results suggest that muscle pump-induced inhibition of sympathetic vasomotor outflow during low-intensity leg cycling is attenuated by muscle metaboreflex activation in an intensity-dependent manner.NEW & NOTEWORTHY There are no available data concerning the interaction between the sympathoinhibitory effect of muscle pump-induced cardiopulmonary baroreflex loading during leg cycling and the sympathoexcitatory influence of the muscle metaboreflex. In this study, muscle metaboreflex activation attenuated the inhibition of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during leg cycling. This may explain, in part, the response of MSNA to graded-intensity dynamic exercise in which low-intensity leg cycling inhibits MSNA whereas high-intensity exercise elicits graded sympathoexcitation.

Augmented pressor and sympathoexcitatory responses to the onset of isometric handgrip in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) exhibit greater daytime blood pressure (BP) variability, increasing their cardiovascular risk. Given the number of daily activities that incorporate short-duration isometric muscle contractions (e.g., carrying groceries), herein we investigated BP and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses at the onset of isometric handgrip (HG). We tested the hypothesis that, relative to control subjects, patients with T2D would exhibit exaggerated pressor and MSNA responses to the immediate onset of HG. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and MSNA were quantified during the first 30 s of isometric HG at 30% and 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and during a cold pressor test (CPT), a nonexercise sympathoexcitatory stimulus. The onset of 30% MVC HG evoked similar increases in MAP between groups (P = 0.17); however, the increase in MSNA was significantly greater in patients with T2D versus control subjects with the largest group difference at 20 s (P < 0.001). At the onset of 40% MVC HG, patients with T2D demonstrated greater increases in MAP (e.g., 10 s, T2D: 9 ± 1 mmHg, controls: 5 ± 2 mmHg; P = 0.04). MSNA was also greater in patients with T2D at 40% MVC onset but differences were only significant at the 20-30 s timepoint (T2D: 15 ± 3 bursts/min, controls: -2 ± 4 bursts/min; P < 0.001). Similarly, MAP and MSNA responses were augmented during the onset of CPT in T2D patients. These findings demonstrate exaggerated pressor and MSNA reactivity in patients with T2D, with rapid and robust responses to both isometric contractions and cold stress. This hyper-responsiveness may contribute to daily surges in BP in patients with T2D, increasing their short-term and long-term cardiovascular risk.

Effect of acute high-phosphate intake on muscle metaboreflex activation and vascular function.

Increased consumption of inorganic phosphate (Pi), an abundant ingredient in processed foods, has been associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk; however, studies investigating underlying mechanisms are limited. Recently, high dietary Pi was shown to exaggerate the pressor response to static muscle contraction in rodents in part because of overactivation of metabolically sensitive skeletal muscle afferents. Whether acute high Pi consumption affects muscle metaboreflex activation in humans remains unknown. Furthermore, although acute high Pi consumption has been shown to impair vascular function in young healthy men, equivocal results have been reported. Therefore, we hypothesized that acute high Pi consumption augments mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses during muscle metaboreflex activation, impairs endothelial function, and increases arterial stiffness in young healthy men. Subjects performed 35% maximal voluntary contraction static handgrip (HG), followed by postexercise ischemia (PEI) to isolate muscle metaboreflex activation. Resting flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and arterial stiffness were assessed. Measures were made before (pre) and 60 min after (post) subjects consumed either a high-phosphate drink (2,000 mg phosphorus and 1,520 mg sodium) or a sodium drink (1,520 mg sodium; control). MAP responses during HG (preΔ = +23 ± 3 mmHg; postΔ = +21 ± 2 mmHg; P = 0.101) and PEI (preΔ = +21 ± 4 mmHg; postΔ = +18 ± 3 mmHg; P = 0.184) were similar before and after Pi consumption. In contrast, FMD was significantly attenuated following Pi (pre = 5.1 ± 0.5%; post = 3.5 ± 0.5%; P = 0.010), whereas arterial stiffness remained unchanged. There were no changes in any measured variable after control drink consumption. In summary, although the muscle metaboreflex remains unaffected following acute high Pi consumption in young healthy men, endothelial function is impaired. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study was the first to investigate the influence of acute high-phosphate consumption on the pressor response during isometric handgrip and isolated muscle metaboreflex activation during postexercise ischemia in young healthy humans. We demonstrated that a single high dose of phosphate (2,000 mg) did not augment blood pressure in response to exercise or isolated muscle metaboreflex activation, but endothelial function was blunted in young healthy men.

Acute reduction in posterior cerebral blood flow following isometric handgrip exercise is augmented by lower body negative pressure.

The mechanism(s) for the increased occurrence of a grayout or blackout, syncope, immediately after heavy resistance exercise are unclear. It is well-known that orthostatic stress increases the occurrence of postexercise syncope. In addition, previous findings have suggested that hypo-perfusion, especially in the posterior cerebral circulation rather than anterior cerebral circulation, may be associated with the occurrence of syncope. Herein, we hypothesized that the postexercise decrease in posterior, but not anterior, cerebral blood flow (CBF) would be greater during orthostatic stress. Nine healthy subjects performed 3-min isometric handgrip (HG) at 30% maximum voluntary contraction without (CONTROL) and during lower body negative pressure (LBNP; -40 Torr) while vertebral artery (VA) blood flow, as an index of posterior CBF, and middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv), as an index of anterior CBF, were measured. Immediately after HG (0 to 15 sec of recovery phase), mean arterial pressure decreased but there was no difference in this reduction between CONTROL and LBNP conditions (-15.4 ± 4.0% and -17.0 ± 6.2%, P = 0.42). Similarly, MCAv decreased following exercise and was unaffected by the application of LBNP (P = 0.22). In contrast, decreases in VA blood flow immediately following HG during LBNP were significantly greater compared to CONTROL condition (-24.2 ± 9.5% and -13.4 ± 6.6%, P = 0.005). These findings suggest that the decrease in posterior CBF immediately following exercise was augmented by LBNP, whereas anterior CBF appeared unaffected. Thus, the posterior cerebral circulation may be more sensitive to orthostatic stress during the postexercise period.