The hyperaemic response to passive leg movement is dependent on nitric oxide: a new tool to evaluate endothelial nitric oxide function

Stefan Peter Mortensen, Christopher D Askew, Meegan Walker, Michael Permin Nyberg, Ylva Hellsten

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    82 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Key points Passive leg movement is associated with a ~3-fold increase in blood flow to the leg, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Passive leg movement increased venous levels of metabolites of nitric oxide (NO) in young subjects, whereas they remained unaltered in the muscle interstitial space. Inhibition of NO synthesis lowered the vasodilatory response to passive leg movement by ~90%. The increase in leg blood flow was lower in elderly subjects compared to young subjects and leg blood flow did not increase when passive leg movement was performed by elderly with peripheral artery disease. The results suggest that the hyperaemia induced by passive leg movement is NO dependent. The hyperaemic response to passive leg movement and to ACh was also assessed in elderly subjects and patients with peripheral artery disease.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Physiology
    Volume590
    Issue number17
    Pages (from-to)4391-4400
    Number of pages10
    ISSN0022-3751
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Cite this