Measuring and quantifying skin sympathetic nervous system activity in humans

Measuring and quantifying skin sympathetic nervous system activity in humans.

Development of the technique of microneurography has substantially increased our understanding of the function of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in health and in disease. The ability to directly record signals from peripheral autonomic nerves in conscious humans allows for qualitative and quantitative characterization of SNS responses to specific stimuli and over time. Furthermore, distin...

Measuring autonomic nervous system activity

Thermic effect of food and sympathetic nervous system activity in humans.

The intake of nutrients is known to increase energy expenditure. Measured thermic effects of nutrient are 0-3% for fat, 5-10% for carbohydrates and 20-30% for proteins. Stimulation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis during intestinal absorption, initial metabolic steps and nutrient storage are responsible for this food thermic effect. The autonomic nervous system modulates the thermic e...

Sympathetic nervous system activity and α-adrenergic responsiveness in older hypertensive humans.

We have previously demonstrated in normotensive humans an age-associated increase in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity combined with appropriate downregulation of α-adrenergic responsiveness. Impaired downregulation of α-adrenergic responsiveness, despite a comparable level of SNS activity, could contribute to higher blood pressure in older hypertensive humans. We measured arterial plas...

Sympathetic nervous system activity and a-adrenergic responsiveness in older hypertensive humans

Supiano, Mark A., Robert V. Hogikyan, Mohamad A. Sidani, Andrzej T. Galecki, and Jodi L. Krueger. Sympathetic nervous system activity and a-adrenergic responsiveness in older hypertensive humans. Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Endocrinol. Metab. 39): E519–E528, 1999.—We have previously demonstrated in normotensive humans an age-associated increase in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity combined wit...