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Cholinergic mechanisms of cutaneous active vasodilation during heat stress in cystic fibrosis

¹Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital Division; ²Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, and ³Department of Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; and ⁴Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio, Texas

Submitted 12 March 2007 ; accepted in final form 25 June 2007

To test the hypothesis that cutaneous active vasodilation in heat stress is mediated by a redundant cholinergic cotransmitter system, we examined the effects of atropine on skin blood flow (SkBF) increases during heat stress in persons with (CF) and without cystic fibrosis (non-CF). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been implicated as a mediator of cutaneous vasodilation in heat stress. VIP-containing cutaneous neurons are sparse in CF, yet SkBF increases during heat stress are normal. In CF, augmented ACh release or muscarinic receptor sensitivity could compensate for decreased VIP; if so, active vasodilation would be attenuated by atropine in CF relative to non-CF. Atropine was administered into skin by iontophoresis in seven CF and seven matched non-CF subjects. SkBF was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at atropine treated and untreated sites. Blood pressure [mean arterial pressure (MAP)] was monitored (Finapres), and cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated (CVC = LDF/MAP). The protocol began with a normothermic period followed by a 3-min cold stress and 30–45 min of heat stress. Finally, LDF sites were warmed to 42°C to effect maximal vasodilation. CVC was normalized to its site-specific maximum. During heat stress, CVC increased in both CF and non-CF (P < 0.01). CVC increases were attenuated by atropine in both groups (P < 0.01); however, the responses did not differ between groups (P = 0.99). We conclude that in CF there is not greater dependence on redundant cholinergic mechanisms for cutaneous active vasodilation than in non-CF.

vasoactive intestinal peptide; acetylcholine; human; skin blood flow; thermoregulation