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J Appl Physiol 102: 1294, 2007; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01301.2006
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Commentary on Viewpoint "Human experimentation: No accurate, quantitative data?"

To the Editor: Professor Rowell (4) effectively establishes the position that quantitative and precise methods are (and have been) available to assess regional and systemic cardiovascular function in humans. One of many thoughts stimulated by his comments is the remarkable tools we currently possess for studying vascular function in human subjects. A good example is the continuing evolution of the "closed forearm" technique to study function of peripheral arteries. Combining venous occlusion plethysmography measurements of forearm blood flow and brachial artery catheter delivery of compounds that can stimulate or inhibit specific signaling pathways, this technique allows investigators to "pharmaco-dissect" the neural, humoral, and local (endothelial) mechanisms controlling peripheral blood flow under various conditions (2). Recent advances with this model allow the assessment of other peripheral vascular functions such as arterial fibrinolytic capacity via endothelial release of tissue plasminogen activator (6). Another increasingly valuable tool is vascular ultrasonography. Duplex ultrasonography provides continuous measurements of large artery blood flow and, along with arterial pressure, vascular conductance at rest and during acute stress (3). Duplex ultrasonography also provides a means to noninvasively assess endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) of peripheral conduit arteries using blood flow-stimulated dilation (flow-mediated dilation; Ref. 1). Administration of substances (e.g., vitamin C) provides an opportunity to study mechanisms influencing conduit artery EDD, albeit limited to nonvasoactive compounds that do not affect systemic arterial pressure and baroreflexes. Finally, B-mode ultrasound combined with applanation tonometry-acquired carotid pressure waveforms can be used to measure directly arterial compliance, particularly in the large elastic arteries that exert an important influence on left ventricular function/structure and systolic blood pressure (5). These techniques represent only part of the impressive contemporary armamentarium available to study circulatory physiology in humans.

FOOTNOTES


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: D. R. Seals, Dept. of Integrative Physiology, Univ. of CO at Boulder, UCB354, Boulder, CO 80309 (e-mail: seals{at}colorado.edu)

REFERENCES

  1. Celermajer DS, Sorensen KE, Gooch VM, Spiegelhalter DJ, Miller OI, Sullivan ID, Lloyd JK, Deanfield JE. Non-invasive detection of endothelial dysfunction in children and adults at risk of atherosclerosis. Lancet 340: 1111–1115, 1992.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
  2. Dietz NM, Rivera JM, Eggener SE, Fix RT, Warner DO, Joyner MJ. Nitric oxide contributes to the rise in forearm blood flow during mental stress in humans. J Physiol 480: 361–368, 1994.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  3. Gill RW. Measurement of blood flow by ultrasound: accuracy and sources of error. Ultrasound Med Biol 11: 625–641, 1985.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
  4. Rowell LB. Human experimentation: No accurate, quantitative data? J Appl Physiol. In press.
  5. Tanaka H, Dinenno FA, Monahan KD, Clevenger CM, DeSouza CA, Seals DR. Aging, habitual exercise, and dynamic arterial compliance. Circulation 102: 1270–1275, 2000.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Van Guilder Hoetzer GL, Smith DT, Irmiger HM, Greiner JJ, Stauffer BL, DeSouza CA. Endothelial t-PA release is impaired in overweight and obese adults but can be improved with regular aerobic exercise. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 289: E807–E813, 2005.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Douglas R. Seals
Anthony J. Donato
Gary L. Pierce
Ashley E. Walker
 Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado





This Article
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