Enhanced vascular responses to hypocapnia in neurally mediated syncope.

Ann Neurol

Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Research School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.

Published: March 2008

Objective: The susceptibility to suffer neurally mediated syncope and loss of consciousness varies markedly. In addition to vasodilatation and bradycardia, hyperventilation precedes loss of consciousness. The resultant hypocapnia causes cerebral vasoconstriction and peripheral vasodilatation. We postulate that more pronounced cerebral and peripheral vascular responses to reductions in arterial CO(2) levels underlie greater susceptibility to neurally mediated syncope.

Methods: We compared vascular responses to CO(2) among 31 patients with histories of recurrent neurally mediated syncope and low orthostatic tolerance and 14 age- and sex-matched control subjects with no history of syncope and normal orthostatic tolerance. Vascular responses to CO(2) were calculated after all subjects had fully recovered and their blood pressures and heart rates were stable. We measured blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (transcranial Doppler) and in the left brachial artery (brachial Doppler), and end-tidal CO(2) during voluntary hyperventilation and hypoventilation (end-tidal CO(2) from 21-45mm Hg), and determined the slopes of the relations.

Results: Hypocapnia produced a significantly greater reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity and in forearm vascular resistance in patients with neurally mediated syncope than in control subjects. Opposite changes occurred in response to hypercapnia. In all subjects, the changes in cerebral blood flow velocity and forearm vasodilatation were inversely related with orthostatic tolerance.

Interpretation: Susceptibility to neurally mediated syncope can be explained, at least in part, by enhanced cerebral vasoconstriction and peripheral vasodilatation in response to hypocapnia. This may have therapeutic implications.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.21205DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

neurally mediated
24
mediated syncope
20
vascular responses
16
blood flow
12
flow velocity
12
loss consciousness
8
cerebral vasoconstriction
8
vasoconstriction peripheral
8
peripheral vasodilatation
8
susceptibility neurally
8

Similar Publications

Maternal obesity alters histone modifications mediated by the interaction between Ezh2 and Ampk, impairing neural differentiation in the developing embryonic brain cortex.

J Biol Chem

January 2025

Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; ASPIRE Precision Medicine Research Institute Abu Dhabi (PMRI-AD), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE. Electronic address:

Neurodevelopmental disorders have complex origins that manifest early during embryonic growth and are associated with intricate gene regulation dynamics. A perturbed metabolic environment such as hyperglycemia or dyslipidemia, particularly due to maternal obesity, poses a threat to the optimal development of the embryonic central nervous system. Accumulating evidence suggests that these metabolic irregularities during pregnancy may alter neurogenesis pathways, thereby predisposing the developing fetus to neurodevelopmental disorders.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Motile cilia modulate neuronal and astroglial activity in the zebrafish larval brain.

Cell Rep

January 2025

Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skjalgssons Gate 1, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Algorithms in the Cortex, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address:

The brain uses a specialized system to transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), consisting of interconnected ventricles lined by motile ciliated ependymal cells. These cells act jointly with CSF secretion and cardiac pressure gradients to regulate CSF dynamics. To date, the link between cilia-mediated CSF flow and brain function is poorly understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) plays a key role in connecting glycolysis to mitochondrial metabolism and its function in glioblastoma (GBM) post-treatment is not well understood.
  • Through in vitro and in vivo studies, the research shows that the MPC is crucial in regulating metabolism after treatments like temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation, specifically inhibiting differentiation in GBM cells.
  • The study highlights the potential for using MPC inhibitors to enhance the effectiveness of current therapies and improve survival rates for GBM patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shaping the structural dynamics of motor learning through cueing during sleep.

Sleep

January 2025

UR2NF-Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit affiliated at CRCN - Centre for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences and UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.

Enhancing the retention of recent memory traces through sleep reactivation is possible via Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), involving cueing learned material during post-training sleep. Evidence indicates detectable short-term microstructural changes in the brain within an hour after motor sequence learning, and post-training sleep is believed to contribute to the consolidation of these motor memories, potentially leading to enduring microstructural changes. In this study, we explored how TMR during post-training sleep affects performance gains and delayed microstructural remodeling, using both standard Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and advanced Neurite Orientation Dispersion & Density Imaging (NODDI).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

One BAG doesn't fit all: the differences and similarities of BAG family members in mediating CNS homeostasis.

Biol Psychiatry

January 2025

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 604, Rochester, NY 14620 USA. Electronic address:

There is an increasing awareness that B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated athanogene (BAG) proteins play critical roles in maintaining neural homeostasis, and that their dysregulation contributes to neurological disorders. This protein family of nine members is evolutionarily conserved, with each member having at least one BAG domain that binds to the nucleotide-binding domains of Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) 70 family members. Collectively, these proteins are essential for the proper functioning of the central nervous system (CNS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!