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Nitric oxide and passive limb movement: a new approach to assess vascular function
Author(s) -
Trinity Joel D.,
Groot H. Jonathan,
Layec Gwenael,
Rossman Matthew J.,
Ives Stephen J.,
Runnels Sean,
Gmelch Ben,
Bledsoe Amber,
Richardson Russell S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.224741
Subject(s) - medicine , photoplethysmogram , vasodilation , omega n methylarginine , nitric oxide , hemodynamics , stroke volume , anesthesia , heart rate , blood pressure , nitric oxide synthase , cardiology , filter (signal processing) , computer science , computer vision
Key points • Passive limb movement elicits a robust increase in limb blood flow (LBF) and limb vascular conductance (LVC) without a concomitant increase in skeletal muscle metabolism. • The peripheral vascular mechanisms associated with the increase in LBF and LVC are unknown. • Using an intra‐arterial infusion of N G ‐monomethyl‐ l‐ arginine ( l‐ NMMA) to inhibit nitric oxide synthase (NOS) the hyperaemic and vasodilatory response to passive limb movement was attenuated by nearly 80%. • This finding demonstrates that the increases in LBF and LVC during passive limb movement are primarily NO dependent. • Passive limb movement appears to have significant promise as a new approach to assess NO‐mediated vascular function, an important predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.