Blood pressure regulation in humans: calculation of an "error signal" in control of sympathetic nerve activity.

ABSTRACT: Within an individual, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is negatively related to sympathetic burst incidence, such that lower pressure is associated with high burst incidence. Our goal was to explore the use of a calculation of a DBP "error signal" in the control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in men and women. Baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity was measured in healthy young men (n=22) and women (n=28). Women had significantly lower muscle sympathetic nerve activity than men (29+/-3 versus 43+/-2 bursts per 100 heartbeats; P<0.05). For each individual, the DBP at which there is a 50% likelihood of a muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst, the "T50" value, was calculated. Mean DBP was subtracted from the T50 blood pressure as an approximate error signal for burst activation. Err

SUBMITTER: Wehrwein EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2814360 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature