Influence of hyperoxia on skin vasomotor control in normothermic and heat-stressed humans

Abstract

Hyperoxia induces skin vasoconstriction in humans, but the mechanism is still unclear. In the present study we examined whether the vasoconstrictor response to hyperoxia is through activated adrenergic function ( protocol 1) or through inhibitory effects on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and/or cyclooxygenase (COX) ( protocol 2). We also tested whether any such vasoconstrictor effect is altered by body heating. In protocol 1 ( n = 11 male subjects), release of norepinephrine from adrenergic terminals in the forearm skin was blocked locally by iontophoresis of bretylium (BT). In protocol 2, the NOS inhibitor N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and the nonselective COX antagonist ketorolac (Keto) were separately administered by intradermal microdialysis in 11 male subjects. In the two protocols, subjects breathed 21% (room air) or 100% O₂in both normothermia and hyperthermia. Skin blood flow (SkBF) was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as the ratio of SkBF to blood pressure measured by Finapres. In protocol 1, breathing 100% O₂decreased ( P < 0.05) CVC at the BT-treated and at untreated sites from the levels of CVC during 21% O₂breathing both in normothermia and hyperthermia. In protocol 2, the administration of l-NAME inhibited ( P < 0.05) the reduction of CVC during 100% O₂breathing in both thermal conditions. The administration of Keto inhibited ( P < 0.05) the reduction of CVC during 100% O₂breathing in hyperthermia but not in normothermia. These results suggest that skin vasoconstriction with hyperoxia is partly due to the decreased activity of functional NOS in normothermia and hyperthermia. We found no significant role for adrenergic mechanisms in hyperoxic vasoconstriction. Decreased production of vasodilator prostaglandins may play a role in hyperoxia-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction in heat-stressed humans.