Endotoxemia causes central downregulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone in healthy humans.

Experimental endotoxemia as a model of the initial septic response affects the autonomic nervous system with profound cardiovascular sequelae. Whether the postsynaptic sympathoneural activity to the muscle vascular bed is altered in the early septic phase remains to be determined. The present study aimed to elucidate the early effects of LPS on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and cardiovascular regulation in healthy humans.

Elevated resting and exercise-induced cortisol levels after mineralocorticoid receptor blockade with canrenoate in healthy humans.

Activation of central nervous mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) has been shown to inhibit the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis in animals. Here, we examined whether MRs in humans likewise regulate HPA activity in response to a physiological stressor. In a balanced, randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial, 12 healthy men were treated with either two injections of 200 mg canrenoate or placebo 24 and 8 h before an intense physical exercise taking place between 1600 and 1700 h.

Influence of captopril on symptomatic and hormonal responses to hypoglycaemia in humans.

Aims: Hypoglycaemic symptoms and hormonal counter-regulation are of high importance to avoid the risk of severe hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes mellitus. Various antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, have been suspected for a long time to reduce this response to hypoglycaemia in diabetic subjects. Although ACE inhibitors are approved for controlling diabetic complications, previous investigations regarding this putative side-effect are controversial.