Comparison between Sympathetic Activity in Human Skin- and Muscle Nerves and Accompanying Changes in Vascular Resistance

Abstract

The results of numerous investigations of the peripheral circulation indicate a highly differentiated control of the sympathetic outflow to different vascular beds. Neurophysiological evidence for differentiated control of sympathetic outflow to arterial muscle- and skin vessels has now been given (HAGBARTH and VALLBO, 1968; WALLIN, DELIUS, HONGELL and HAGBARTH, 1971 a, b, d; WALLIN, HONGELL, HALLIN, TOREBJÖRK and HAGBARTH, 1971 c). Multi-unit sympathetic activity was recorded by microelectrodes inserted percutaneously into muscle- and skin nerves in alert, adult subjects together with measurements of intraarterial blood pressure and muscles- and skin blood flow in the extremities. The nervous signals were abolished by sympathetic ganglion bloking agents and by Lidocaine nerve blocks proximal to the recording site.