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Effects of head-down-tilt bed rest on cerebral hemodynamics during orthostatic stressOur aim was to determine whether the adaptation to simulated microgravity (microG) impairs regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) during orthostatic stress and contributes to orthostatic intolerance. Twelve healthy subjects (aged 24 +/- 5 yr) underwent 2 wk of -6 degrees head-down-tilt (HDT) bed rest to simulate hemodynamic changes that occur when humans are exposed to microG. CBF velocity in the middle cerebral artery (transcranial Doppler), blood pressure, cardiac output (acetylene rebreathing), and forearm blood flow were measured at each level of a ramped protocol of lower body negative pressure (LBNP; -15, -30, and -40 mmHg x 5 min, -50 mmHg x 3 min, then -10 mmHg every 3 min to presyncope) before and after bed rest. Orthostatic tolerance was assessed by using the cumulative stress index (CSI; mmHg x minutes) for the LBNP protocol. After bed rest, each individual's orthostatic tolerance was reduced, with the group CSI decreased by 24% associated with greater decreases in cardiac output and greater increases in systemic vascular resistance at each level of LBNP. Before bed rest, mean CBF velocity decreased by 14, 10, and 45% at -40 mmHg, -50 mmHg, and maximal LBNP, respectively. After bed rest, mean velocity decreased by 16% at -30 mmHg and by 21, 35, and 39% at -40 mmHg, -50 mmHg, and maximal LBNP, respectively. Compared with pre-bed rest, post-bed-rest mean velocity was less by 11, 10, and 21% at -30, -40, and -50 mmHg, respectively. However, there was no significant difference at maximal LBNP. We conclude that cerebral autoregulation during orthostatic stress is impaired by adaptation to simulated microG as evidenced by an earlier and greater fall in CBF velocity during LBNP. We speculate that impairment of cerebral autoregulation may contribute to the reduced orthostatic tolerance after bed rest.
Document ID
20040172787
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Zhang, R.
(Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Dallas, Texas 75231, United States)
Zuckerman, J. H.
Pawelczyk, J. A.
Levine, B. D.
Blomqvist, C. G.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
Volume: 83
Issue: 6
ISSN: 8750-7587
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: RO1-RR-00633
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary
Clinical Trial
Non-NASA Center

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