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(Hypertension. 1999;34:1080-1085.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
From the Departments of General Internal Medicine (G.V., J.A.L., P.S.), Nephrology (J.F.W., J.H.B.), and Pharmacology (P.S.), University Hospital Nijmegen St Radboud, Nijmegen; and the Department of Internal Medicine (L.G.D.), TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
Correspondence to Gerald Vervoort, MD, University Hospital Nijmegen St Radboud, Division of General Internal Medicine 541, Geert Grooteplein 8, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. E-mail g.vervoort{at}aig.azn.nl
| Abstract |
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-adrenergic receptor
sensitivity by measuring FBF response to intra-arterially
infused NE. We found that basal FBF was increased in DP (2.9±0.1
versus 2.0±0.1 mL · min-1 ·
dL-1 in CS; P<0.01). L-NMMA caused a
similar vasoconstriction in both groups (28.5±1.7% in DP versus
31.2±2.2% in CS; P=NS). Maximum blood flow during
infusion of ACh was not different (23.3±1.9 mL ·
min-1 · dL-1 in DP versus 20.1±1.6 in
CS). Arterial plasma NE concentrations were significantly
decreased in DP (0.57±0.03 versus 0.81±0.05 nmol/L in CS;
P<0.01). The vasoconstrictive effect of
NE was increased in DP (slope log dose-response curve, 31.3±1.5 versus
24.3±1.8 in CS; P<0.01). We conclude that basal FBF is
increased in noncomplicated type 1 diabetes. We found no evidence of a
disturbance of basal or stimulated NO production.
Arterial plasma NE concentrations are decreased in
noncomplicated type 1 diabetes. This may explain the vasodilatation at
baseline and the increased vascular response to
intra-arterially NE.
Key Words: endothelium L-NMMA norepinephrine acetylcholine diabetes blood flow
| Introduction |
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Thus, in diabetic patients (DP), the decrease in vascular tone and the ensuing increase in skeletal muscle blood flow may result either from an increased release of NO from the vascular endothelium or from a decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity.
This hypothesis was addressed by use of the perfused forearm
technique to quantify baseline and stimulated NO release and
-adrenergic responsiveness. Furthermore, as a measure of sympathetic
nervous system activity, we have quantified arterial
norepinephrine (NE) levels (
-adrenergic tone).
| Methods |
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Study Protocols
Participants attended the clinic after an overnight fast.
DP received their neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin dose the
evening before the study but did not receive their usual fast-acting
morning insulin. Glucose was measured before and during the study but
was not corrected by insulin, to avoid confounding by the vasodilator
effect of insulin.7 8 9 If hypoglycemia occurred (glucose
<3.0 mmol/L), the test was canceled. In addition to glucose, free
fatty acids (FFA) were measured. All participants were instructed to
abstain from alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours and to refrain from
smoking for 12 hours before the study.
The study was performed between 8 AM and 12
AM in a temperature-controlled room (23°C).
Dosages of all drugs were calculated per deciliter of forearm volume,
which was measured by water displacement. Forearm blood flow (FBF),
intra-arterial BP, and heart rate were measured after
cannulation of the left brachial artery as described
before.10 After an equilibration period of 45 minutes with
subjects supine, arterial blood samples were collected for
determination of plasma NE and epinephrine, and
intra-arterial BP and heart rate were registered.
Thereafter, the experiment started with the measurement of baseline FBF
during placebo infusion (NaCl, 0.9%). After placebo infusion, FBF
response to intra-arterial infusion of
NG-monomethyl-L-arginine
(L-NMMA) was recorded. Three dosages of L-NMMA were given (0.05,
0.10, and 0.20 mg · min-1 ·
dL-1; 5 minutes per dose) to produce a
dose-response curve. Baseline FBF recordings were performed
again
60 minutes after infusion of L-NMMA, after FBF had returned to
baseline values. Then, FBF response to graded
intra-arterial infusion of NE (10, 20, and 40 ·
ng · min-1 ·
dL-1; 5 minutes per dose) was registered.
Thereafter, FBF returned to baseline values within 30 minutes. After
baseline FBF measurements were taken, FBF response to increasing
dosages of ACh (0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg ·
min-1 · dL-1; 5
minutes per dose) was recorded. By
15 minutes after the infusion
of ACh was stopped, forearm ischemia was achieved by inflating
a cuff around the upper arm up to 200 mm Hg for 13 minutes;
dynamic exercise (20 to 30 hand contractions) was performed during the
last minute of ischemia. Flow was measured at 20-second
intervals for the first 2 minutes after ischemic release to
determine maximal FBF. This postocclusive reactive hyperemia
test (PORH) was used to exclude structural abnormalities and to assess
maximal vasodilator capacity.11
After the final dose of L-NMMA, 2 to 4 µCi
125I-albumin (code IM 17 P, Amersham
Intl) was given as an intravenous bolus injection. During
60 minutes after injection, 7 blood samples were collected at regular
intervals. Plasma radioactivity was measured in each sample with a
scintillation detector (automatic
-counter, 1480 Wizard 3', Wallac).
Plasma volume was determined from retropolation of the disappearance
curve to time zero and from the injected volume of the tracer.
Calculations were made only when correlation coefficient between time
points for blood sampling and the corresponding values of ln (plasma
radioactivity) were >0.85.12 In a pilot study, we found
no influence of local arterial infusion of L-NMMA on the
clearance of 125I-albumin.
After completion of the study, we selected 24 DP with arterial plasma NE concentrations in the highest (n=12) or lowest (n=12) quartile. In these DP, cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed from BP response to sustained handgrip and from heart rate variation during controlled forced breathing, standing up, and Valsalva maneuver.13 These tests were performed to find whether the observed reduction in plasma NE in DP resulted from subclinical autonomic neuropathy. Findings were compared with reference values from healthy subjects matched for age and gender.13
In all participants, 24-hour ambulatory BP was measured with an automatic BP device (Profilomat, Disetronic Medical Systems AG) on a normal working day. Raw data were manually checked and inappropriate readings removed.14 BP readings between 10 AM and 11 PM were averaged as "daytime" BP and between 1 and 7 AM as "nighttime" BP.
Drugs
Drugs were dissolved in saline (NaCl, 0.9%), at the start of
the study. L-NMMA was purchased from Clinalfa A.G.; NE from Centrafarm
Services B.V.; and ACh from Dispersa A.G.
Biochemical Measurements
Plasma arterial NE and epinephrine were
determined by an accurate assay.15 Plasma glucose was
measured using a standard glucose oxidation method. During the study,
glucose was measured hourly in arterial blood using
Glucocard (Menarini Diagnostics). Insulin was
measured with an insulin-specific double-antibody radioimmunoassay
(interassay coefficient of variation, 6.2%). Hemoglobin
A1c (HbA1c) was measured
using a high-performance liquid chromatographic
technique (Bio-Rad Diamat), with reference values of 4.8% to 6.2%.
FFA were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric
method (ACS-ACOD method, Wako Chemicals).
Statistical Analysis and Data Report
FBF is expressed as milliliters per minute per deciliter of
forearm tissue. Because BP was not significantly affected by infusion
of either drug (see Results), changes in FBF were assumed to
represent changes in vascular tone. Therefore, forearm vascular
resistance was not calculated.16 FBF measurements obtained
during the last 3 minutes of each 5-minute period of placebo or drug
infusion were averaged. During these 3 minutes, FBF showed a steady
state for all infusion rates. For the vasodilator response to forearm
ischemia, the maximal FBF after deflation of the cuff was used.
To quantify the overall response to L-NMMA and NE, we calculated
absolute and percentage changes by using the preceding baseline
recordings. To overcome differences in baseline flow and to
correct for systemic influences, responses are also described as FBF
(left/right) ratio (FBFleft [experimental
arm]/FBFright [control
arm]).16
Because we used fixed dosages based on forearm volume, (fictive) concentration of the drug in the forearm will depend on FBF. Because FBF varies considerably between individuals, dose-response curves corrected for flow were calculated; the standard dose of the infused drug was divided by the resulting FBF in steady state. The responses to ACh were expressed as the ratio of FBF during infusion of ACh and individual maximal FBF after ischemia.11 We used this ratio to overcome individual differences in baseline and maximal flow. Differences in baseline levels between groups were analyzed by the Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test when appropriate. We evaluated differences in vascular responses to the various drugs and dosages between groups by use of repeated-measures ANOVA.
To analyze differences in relative change in FBF between
groups and related to concentration, a generalized mixed linear model
was postulated with group, concentration, and their interaction as
fixed factors and DP or CS as random factor. If residuals appeared to
be nongaussian distributed, the same analysis was done on ranks
of observations. Computations were done using Proc Mixed (SAS) and the
SPSS software package. Correlations were calculated using the Pearson
r test for normally distributed data and Spearman test for
nongaussian data. Results are expressed as mean±SE unless otherwise
indicated. Differences were considered statistically significant at
P
0.05.
| Results |
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Baseline and Stimulated NO Release
L-NMMA produced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction
(P<0.001 in both groups, Table 2). Maximal
percentage change in absolute FBF was 28.5±1.5% in DP and 31.2±2.2%
in CS (P=NS). L-NMMA (0.05, 0.10, and 0.20 mg ·
min-1 · dL-1)
reduced the FBF ratio in DP by 12.5±1.2%, 21.9±1.4%, and
29.8±1.4%, respectively, and in CS by 14.0±2.0%, 22.0±2.1%, and
29.9±2.1% (P=NS between groups). A dose-response curve
corrected for flow (concentration-response curve) is shown in Figure 1. The concentration-response curves were
exactly the same in both groups. The slopes of the linear relationship
of the logarithm of concentration and vasoconstricting response to
L-NMMA were not different between groups (27.8±1.5 in DP and 26.2±1.7
in CS; P=NS).
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ACh (0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg · min-1 · dL-1) produced a dose-dependent increase in FBF (P<0.001, Table 2). The maximal FBF during the highest ACh dose was not different between the groups (23.3±1.8 in DP versus 20.1±1.6 mL · min-1 · dL-1 in CS). After 13 minutes of forearm ischemia, mean maximal FBF averaged 43.5±1.5 mL · min-1 · dL-1 in DP and was similar to the corresponding maximal FBF of 41.0±1.7 mL · min-1 · dL-1 in CS (P=NS). In DP, the ratio of FBF during ACh infusion and the maximal FBF (PORH) increased by 21.1±1.7%, 33.7±2.8%, and 52.8±3.7% for dosages of 0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg · min-1 · dL-1, respectively. ACh increased this ratio in CS by 13.9±1.2%, 26.8±2.4%, and 50.4±3.4%, respectively (Figure 2; P=NS between groups).
|
-Adrenergic ReceptorMediated Vascular Tone
Mean arterial plasma NE concentration was
0.57±0.03 nmol/L in DP and 0.81±0.05 in CS (P<0.01).
Plasma epinephrine concentrations were not significantly
different between the groups (0.19±0.02 nmol/L in DP and 0.21±0.02 in
CS). Intra-arterially infused NE produced dose-dependent
vasoconstriction (Table 2; P<0.001 in both groups).
Maximal percentage change of absolute FBF was 45.8±2.4% in DP and
39.8±3.0% in CS (P=0.09). NE (10, 20, and 40 ng ·
min-1 · dL-1)
reduced FBF ratio in DP by 27.9±2.0%, 36.8±2.0%, and 46.9±2.2%,
respectively, and in CS by 21.8±2.9%, 30.5±3.1%, and 40.1±3.2%,
respectively (P=NS between groups). A concentration-response
curve for NE is shown in Figure 3.
Analysis of the generalized mixed linear model showed a
dose-response relationship in both groups and showed that the slope of
the linear logarithmic relationship is steeper in DP (31.3±1.5 versus
24.3±1.8 in CS, P<0.01).
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During the various procedures, no significant changes to contralateral FBF occurred. No significant changes were noted in BP after infusion of L-NMMA, ACh, or NE in either group (data not shown). Standardized cardiovascular autonomic tests disclosed no differences between DP in the highest or lowest quartile of NE concentration or with values of age- and sex-matched controls (data not shown).
In DP, no significant correlation existed between the response to L-NMMA, ACh, or NE and the duration of diabetes; HbA1c; levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and FFA; concentrations of insulin, glucose, and plasma NE; and baseline flow (data not shown). Weak correlation existed between basal FBF and blood glucose level (Spearman, r=0.40 [95% CI, 0.14 to 0.62]; P=0.01; Figure 4) and between basal FBF and FFA levels (Spearman, r=0.29 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.53]; P=0.03). No correlations were observed between basal FBF and HbA1c, plasma NE concentration, total cholesterol, insulin concentration, or diabetes duration (data not shown). In view of the observed correlations between basal FBF, blood glucose level, and FFA and the possible confounding effect of elevated glucose levels, we performed a subanalysis in 11 DP with glucose values during the study of 4 to 7 mmol/L (normoglycemic; mean glucose, 5.9±0.7 mmol/L) and 11 DP with glucose values of 14 to 22 mmol/L (hyperglycemic; mean glucose, 17.3±2.6 mmol/L) (Table 3). FFA and basal FBF were significantly increased in the hyperglycemic DP compared with the normoglycemic group. However, FBF was still increased in the normoglycemic DP compared with CS. The responses to L-NMMA, ACh, and NE were comparable between both diabetic groups. In the normoglycemic DP, plasma NE was significantly reduced compared with CS (0.51±0.16 versus 0.81±0.37 nmol/L, P<0.01).
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| Discussion |
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Our study confirms that skeletal muscle blood flow is increased in the early phase of diabetes. Some investigators have found no significant difference in baseline flow in DP; however, the number of patients in these studies was small.23 Furthermore, glucose was controlled by euglycemic clamping (see discussion below).
We found no evidence for a role of the endothelium-derived vasodilator NO in DP, because the vasoconstrictive response to L-NMMA was similar in DP and CS. In experimental diabetes, basal endogenous NO accounts for the increase in renal perfusion, because increases in renal blood flow can be blocked by inhibitors of constitutive NO synthesis.24 25 From in vivo animal experiments, no data are available on the role of NO in hyperperfusion of other vascular beds. To our knowledge, studies on the role of NO in glomerular hyperfiltration in humans have not been published. Therefore, our conclusions may be applicable only to the skeletal muscle vascular bed. Several investigators have determined vascular response to L-NMMA in the human forearm. In these studies, either no difference or a decreased vasoconstrictive response was observed for L-NMMA in noncomplicated DP.20 23 26 Of note, the study by Calver et al,20 the vasoconstrictive responses of L-NMMA were corrected for by the vasoconstrictive response to NE.
Vasodilating factors other than NO, such as prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, could contribute to the increase in blood flow. However, few data point toward an increased release of prostacyclin or endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor by the endothelium in diabetes.
Therefore, we have focused on the sympathetic nerve system, because the adrenergic activity is a major determinant of vascular tone. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is a common finding in experimental diabetes.4 Also, a decrease in sympathetic activity has been shown in the early phase of human diabetes.5 6 In the present study, arterial NE concentration, which reflects whole-body sympathetic tone, was significantly decreased in patients with noncomplicated type 1 diabetes. Our findings may seem to contradict results reported by others, who reported normal or even increased NE levels in normoalbuminuric type 1 DP.27 28 However, in these studies, NE concentrations were measured in venous blood samples. Arterial NE concentration is far more consistent for indication of total-body sympathetic activity than venous NE, which is known to be influenced by local (mainly skeletal muscle) nerve activity.29
We also found an increased responsiveness to infused NE. Results of animal and human data have been equivocal.4 20 21 30 The increase in vascular responsiveness of NE seen in our DP is compatible with receptor upregulation expected to occur in situations of sympathetic nerve denervation and low NE levels. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that reduced sympathetic drive may, at least in part, be responsible for the reduced peripheral vascular resistance seen in noncomplicated type 1 diabetes.
A decrease in other endogenous vasoconstrictive mediators could also be involved. Some investigators have found a decrease in plasma endothelin and angiotensin levels in early diabetes.26 31 An altered sensitivity to both mediators, however, has not unequivocally been proven yet in humans in vivo.
One could speculate as to potential mechanisms that underlie the decrease in sympathetic drive. Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia increase tubular sodium reabsorption, which causes extracellular volume expansion.32 An increase in BP or cardiac filling pressure will lead to decreased sympathetic tone and reduced peripheral resistance. However, plasma volume and BP were similar in noncomplicated DP and CS. Furthermore, we found no relation between glucose values or HbA1c and plasma NE concentration and vascular response to NE. Finally, one could speculate that autonomic diabetic neuropathy is responsible for the decrease in sympathetic drive. However, cardiovascular autonomic responses were not different between DP with plasma NE concentrations in the lowest and highest quartiles, nor did they differ from those of CS. The night/day ratios of BP and heart rate were the same in DP and CS. Nevertheless, we cannot rule out that more advanced techniques (ie, microneurography) will reveal early autonomic dysfunction in these patients.
One important aspect concerns the role of hyperglycemia per se. A main issue when studying DP is the selection of the most appropriate experimental conditions. The study of DP in conditions of normoglycemia and normoinsulinemia is difficult. The only way to achieve this is to infuse low doses of insulin into the portal vein, a method clearly not available for routine use. Therefore, investigators are left with 2 options, either to study DP under euglycemic (hyperinsulinemic) conditions or to study DP in a fasting state with insulin levels as low as possible. In the latter case, glucose levels will be moderately increased, as is often the case in normal daily life of these patients. We think that either condition is relevant for the study of patients with diabetes.
For the present study, we chose to withhold the morning insulin dose to obtain low insulin levels to overcome the well-documented effects of insulin on vascular tone (vasodilatation) and sympathetic activity (stimulation).7 8 9 As a result, glucose levels in our DP were slightly to moderately elevated. Prolonged local hyperglycemia has not been shown to affect FBF in healthy humans.33 In contrast, hyperglycemia has been reported to cause increases in retinal and renal blood flow.9 19 Furthermore, basal blood flow in DP has been claimed to have been normalized during euglycemic clamp.23 However, in the latter study, CS were not subjected to euglycemic clamp.23 Besides, infusion of insulin has been demonstrated to increase sympathetic activity and NE levels.9 In view of the increased vasoconstrictive response to NE in DP, a euglycemic clamp is likely to lead to "pseudonormalization" of FBF. In this way, the procedure itself could cause a difference in NE vasoreactivity between DP and CS to be missed.
In the present study, we found a weak correlation between fasting glucose and FFA on one hand and basal FBF on the other. An increase in blood glucose or metabolic factors related to elevated glucose levels (eg, an increase in FFA) may be, in part, responsible for the higher FBF in the subgroup of hyperglycemic DP. However, subanalysis of DP with normal fasting glucose levels (between 4 and 7 mmol/L) showed a significant increase in FBF compared with CS. In this subgroup, glucose and FFA were normal. The combination of observations in this selected group proves that hyperglycemia did not confound our key conclusions.
From the present study, we therefore conclude that resting basal FBF is increased in noncomplicated type 1 diabetes. There is no evidence that basal NO synthesis is increased. However, arterial plasma NE concentration is decreased, whereas the vasoconstricting response to NE is increased, which suggests a chronic decrease in sympathetic drive. The decrease in sympathetic tone may, in part, be responsible for the decrease in vascular tone.
| Acknowledgments |
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Received April 5, 1999; first decision April 23, 1999; accepted July 1, 1999.
| References |
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