Sympathetic responses to vestibular activation in humans.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol
; 294(3): R681-8, 2008 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18199586
ABSTRACT
Activation of sympathetic neural traffic via the vestibular system is referred to as the vestibulosympathetic reflex. Investigations of the vestibulosympathetic reflex in humans have been limited to the past decade, and the importance of this reflex in arterial blood pressure regulation is still being determined. This review provides a summary of sympathetic neural responses to various techniques used to engage the vestibulosympathetic reflex. Studies suggest that activation of the semicircular canals using caloric stimulation and yaw rotation do not modulate muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) or skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA). In contrast, activation of the otolith organs appear to alter MSNA, but not SSNA. Specifically, head-down rotation and off-vertical axis rotation increase MSNA, while sinusoidal linear accelerations decrease MSNA. Galvanic stimulation, which results in a nonspecific activation of the vestibule, appears to increase MSNA if the mode of delivery is pulse trained. In conclusion, evidence strongly supports the existence of a vestibulosympathetic reflex in humans. Furthermore, attenuation of the vestibulosympathetic reflex is coupled with a drop in arterial blood pressure in the elderly, suggesting this reflex may be important in human blood pressure regulation.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Sistema Nervioso Simpático
/
Vestíbulo del Laberinto
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol
Asunto de la revista:
FISIOLOGIA
Año:
2008
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos