Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1358472
Influence of Decompression Sickness on Vasomotion of Isolated Rat Vessels
Publication History
accepted after revision 19 September 2013
Publication Date:
20 November 2013 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/201407/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-0033-1358472-1.jpg)
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated that endothelial function is impaired following a dive even without decompression sickness. During this study we determined the effect of decompression sickness on endothelium-dependent and independent vasoreactivity. For this purpose twenty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were submitted to a simulated dive up to 1 000 kPa absolute pressure and divided into 3 groups: safe diving without decompression sickness or dives provoking mild or severe sickness. A fourth control group remained at atmospheric pressure. Endothelium-dependent and independent vasomotion was assessed ex vivo by measuring isometric tension in rings of abdominal aorta and mesenteric arteries. Dose-response curves were obtained with phenylephrine, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was measured in the presence of L-NAME, indometacin or both of them at once.Contraction was significantly decreased after each protocol compared with the control rats. Additionally, the response in animals from the severe group was significantly different from that of the safe and mild groups. Dose response curves for acetylcholine alone and in the presence of inhibitors remained unchanged. We did not observe differences in endothelium-dependent vasodilation after diving or in the presence of decompression sickness. Contractile response to phenylephrine was progressively impaired with increased decompression stress. These results may indicate smooth muscle injury.
-
References
- 1 Anegg U, Dietmaier G, Maier A, Tomaselli F, Gabor S, Kallus KW, Smolle-Jüttner FM. Stress-induced hormonal and mood responses in scuba divers: a field study. Life Sci 2002; 70: 2721-2734
- 2 Brubakk A, Duplancic D, Valic Z, Palada I, Obad A, Bakovic D, Wisloff U, Dujic Z. A single air dive reduces arterial endotelial function in man. J Physiol 2005; 566: 901-906
- 3 Cabigas BP, Su J, Hutchins W, Shi Y, Schaefer R, Recinos R, Nilakantan V, Kindwall E, Niezgoda J, Baker J. Hyperoxic and hyperbaric-induced cardioprotection: role of nitric oxide synthase. Cardiovasc Res 2006; 72: 143-151
- 4 Cowan DF, Curry BE. Histopathology of the alarm reaction in small odontocetes. J Comp Pathol 2008; 139: 24-33
- 5 Feletou M, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of canine coronary smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol 1988; 93: 515-524
- 6 Fritz I, Levine R. Action of adrenal cortical steroids and nor-epinephrine on vascular responses of stress in adrenalectomized rats. Am J Physiol 1951; 165: 456-465
- 7 Gangadharan SP, Eslami MH, Weiss IP, Sui X, Conte MS. Monocyte adhesion to balloon-injured arteries: the influence of endothelial cell seeding. J Vasc Surg 2001; 33: 1247-1254
- 8 Guerrero F, Lucciano M, Joanny P, Jammes Y. Hyperbaric-induced enhancement of noradrenaline-evoked contraction in rat thoracic aorta. Exp Physiol 1997; 82: 687-695
- 9 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
- 10 Hizume T, Morikawa K, Takaki A, Abe K, Sunagawa K, Amano M, Kaibuchi K, Kubo C, Shimokawa H. Sustained elevation of serum cortisol level causes sensitization of coronary vasoconstricting responses in pigs in vivo a possible link between stress and coronary vasospasm. Circ Res 2006; 99: 767-775
- 11 Lambrechts K, Pontier JM, Balestra C, Mazur A, Wang Q, Buzzacott P, Theron M, Mansourati J, Guerrero F. Effect of a single, open-sea, air scuba dive on human micro- and macro-vascular function. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013; in press
- 12 Lefebvre B, Godin-Ribuot D, Joyeux-Faure M, Caron F, Bessard G, Lévy P, Stanke-Labesque F. Functional assessment of vascular reactivity after chronic intermittent hypoxia in the rat. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2006; 150: 278-286
- 13 Levin LL, Stewart GJ, Lynch PR, Bove AA. Blood and blood vessel wall changes induced by decompression sickness in dogs. J Appl Physiol 1981; 50: 944-949
- 14 Little T, Butler BD. Pharmacological intervention to the inflammatory response from decompression sickness in rats. Aviat Space Environ Med 2008; 79: 87-93
- 15 Madden LA, Laden G. Gas bubbles may not be the underlying cause of decompression illness – The at-depth endothelial dysfunction hypothesis. Med Hypotheses 2009; 72: 389-392
- 16 Madden LA, Vince RV, Sandström ME, Taylor L, McNaughton L, Laden G. Microparticle-associated vascular adhesion molecule-1 and tissue factor follow a circadian rhythm in healthy human subjects. Thromb Haemost 2008; 99: 909-915
- 17 Marinovic J, Ljubkovic M, Breskovic T, Gunjaca G, Obad A, Modun D, Bilopavlovic N, Tsikas D, Dujic Z. Effects of successive air and nitrox dives on human vascular function. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 2131-2137
- 18 Miller FJ, Gutterman DD, Rios CD, Heistad DD, Davidson BL. Superoxide production in vascular smooth muscle contributes to oxidative stress and impaired relaxation in atherosclerosis. Circ Res 1998; 82: 1298-1305
- 19 Nossum V, Koteng S, Brubakk AO. Endothelial damage by bubbles in the pulmonary artery of the pig. Undersea Hyperb Med 1999; 26: 1-8
- 20 Obad A, Marinovic J, Ljubkovic M, Breskovic T, Modun D, Boban M, Dujic Z. Successive deep dives impair endothelial function and enhance oxidative stress in man. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2010; 30: 432-438
- 21 Obad A, Valic Z, Palada I, Brubakk AO, Modun D, Dujić Z. Antioxidant pretreatment and reduced arterial endothelial dysfunction after diving. Aviat Space Environ Med 2007; 78: 1114-1120
- 22 Pyke KE, Tschakovsky ME. The relationship between shear stress and flow-mediated dilatation: implications for the assessment of endothelial function. J Physiol 2005; 568: 357-369
- 23 Ramey ER, Goldstein MS, Levine R. Action of nor-epinephrine and adrenal cortical steroids on blood pressure and work performance of adrenalectomized dogs. Am J Physiol 1951; 165: 450-455
- 24 Scotland RS, Madhani M, Chauhan S, Moncada S, Andresen J, Nilsson H, Hobbs AJ, Ahluwalia A. Investigation of vascular responses in endothelial nitric oxide synthase/cyclooxygenase-1 double-knockout mice key role for endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in the regulation of blood pressure in vivo. Circulation 2005; 111: 796-803
- 25 Sureda A, Batle JM, Ferrer MD, Mestre-Alfaro A, Tur JA, Pons A. Scuba diving activates vascular antioxidant system. Int J Sports Med 2012; 33: 531-536
- 26 Thom SR, Yang M, Bhopale VM, Huang S, Milovanova TN. Microparticles initiate decompression-induced neutrophil activation and subsequent vascular injuries. J Appl Physiol 2011; 110: 340-351
- 27 Ullian ME. The role of corticosteroids in the regulation of vascular tone. Cardiovasc Res 1999; 41: 55-64
- 28 Vince RV, McNaughton LR, Taylor L, Midgley AW, Laden G, Madden LA. Release of VCAM-1 associated endothelial microparticles following simulated SCUBA dives. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 105: 507-513
- 29 Warren BA, Philp RB, Inwood MJ. The ultrastructural morphology of air embolism: platelet adhesion to the interface and endothelial damage. Br J Exp Pathol 1973; 54: 163-172
- 30 Wisløff U, Richardson RS, Brubakk AO. NOS inhibition increases bubble formation and reduces survival in sedentary but not exercised rats. J Physiol 2003; 546: 577-582
- 31 Yang M, Milovanova TN, Bogush M, Uzun G, Bhopale VM, Thom SR. Microparticle enlargement and altered surface proteins after air decompression are associated with inflammatory vascular injuries. J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 204-211
- 32 Yang Q, Yim APC, He GW. The significance of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in the human circulation. Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2007; 5: 85-92