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Effect of unilateral forearm inactivity on endothelium-dependent vasodilator function in humans

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Abstract

Exercise training is associated with rapid changes in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which occur within days of training. Whilst long-term physical inactivity has potent effects on vascular structure, little is known about the immediate impact of inactivity on vascular function. Aim of this study was to measure vascular function before, during (day 4) and after 8 days of unilateral forearm inactivity. Thirteen healthy male subjects (22 ± 1 years) were instructed to wear a sling on the non-dominant arm to induce local inactivity. Before, during (at 4 days) and after the 8-day intervention, we used echo Doppler to measure bilateral brachial artery dilator response to 5-min ischaemia [i.e. flow-mediated dilation (FMD)], ischaemic handgrip exercise (iEX) and endothelium-independent dilation to a NO donor [i.e. glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)]. Maximal handgrip strength of the inactive forearm significantly decreased after 8 days (t tests P = 0.03 for Day 0 vs. Day 8), confirming physical deconditioning in the inactive forearm. A significant decrease in peak blood flow was found in the intervention arm (sling: 539 ± 236, 528 ± 184, 384 ± 142 ml/min) relative to the control arm (559 ± 181, 591 ± 219, 613 ± 169 ml/min; 2-way ANOVA interaction: P = 0.05). Analysis revealed no significant change in brachial artery baseline diameter, FMD %, iEX or GTN across the 8 days in either arm (P > 0.05). Eight days of forearm physical inactivity induced a significant decrease in post-ischaemic limb blood flow, suggestive of remodelling of forearm resistance vessels. However, measures of conduit artery endothelium-dependent vasodilation were not altered across an 8-day period of inactivity, suggesting that initial remodelling occurs at distal ends of the vascular tree.

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Acknowledgments

Dr Thijssen is recipient of the E. Dekker stipend (Netherlands Heart Foundation, 2009-T064). Prof. Green is funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Australian Research Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK

    Gurpreet K. Birk, Ellen A. Dawson, N. Timothy Cable, Daniel J. Green & Dick H. J. Thijssen

  2. Department of Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Dick H. J. Thijssen

  3. School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Daniel J. Green

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  1. Gurpreet K. Birk
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  2. Ellen A. Dawson
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  3. N. Timothy Cable
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  4. Daniel J. Green
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  5. Dick H. J. Thijssen
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Correspondence to Dick H. J. Thijssen.

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Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Birk, G.K., Dawson, E.A., Timothy Cable, N. et al. Effect of unilateral forearm inactivity on endothelium-dependent vasodilator function in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 933–940 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2505-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2505-7

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