The Carotid Body a Common Denominator for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Dysfunction?

ABSTRACT: The carotid body is a highly vascularized organ designed to monitor oxygen levels. Reducing oxygen levels in blood results in increased activity of the carotid body cells and reflex increases in sympathetic nerve activity. A key contributor to elevated sympathetic nerve activity in neurogenic forms of hypertension is enhanced peripheral chemoreceptor activity. Hypertension commonly occurs in metabolic disorders, like obesity. Such metabolic diseases are serious global health problems. Yet, the mechanisms contributing to increased sympathetic nerve activity and hypertension in obesity are not fully understood and a better understanding is urgently required. In this review, we examine the literature that suggests that overactivity of the carotid body may also contribute to metabolic disturba

SUBMITTER: Badoer E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7478291 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature