Hypoxia: just say NO?

摘要

Blood flow control in the skeletal muscle circulation is a complex balance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator)' mechanisms. This interplay is further complicated in cardiovascular pathology and stressors such as exercise or hypo-xia. Specifically, in response to arterial hypoxaemia this balance is challenged by a reflex increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity. alpha-Adrenergic responsiveness is preserved during hypoxia; without compensatory vasodilatation, sympathetic constriction will limit blood flow to skeletal muscle vascular beds.