Key result
Acute intermittent hypoxia is linked to higher MSNA but divergent respiratory modulation between sexes.
Why the study?
Given sex disparities in human respiratory responses to acute intermittent hypoxia and altered respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity in sleep apnea, sex-related differences following acute intermittent hypoxia were examined.
Does acute intermittent hypoxia alter respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity differently in healthy men and women?
Observational (n=31)
Does acute intermittent hypoxia alter respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity differently in healthy men and women?
Acute intermittent hypoxia induces sex-specific changes in the respiratory patterning of muscle sympathetic nerve activity, which may have implications for understanding autonomic dysregulation in sleep apnea.
Sex differences in respiratory modulation of MSNA after acute intermittent hypoxia may relate to sleep apnea; leaves open clinical relevance and mechanisms.
Sex-related differences in respiratory modulation of sympathetic activity have been observed in rodent models of sleep apnea [intermittent hypoxia (IH)]. In light of sex disparities in the respiratory response to acute IH in humans as well as changes in respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in clinical sleep apnea, we examined sex-related differences in respiratory modulation of MSNA following acute IH. We hypothesized that respiratory modulation of MSNA would be altered in both male and female participants after IH; however, the respiratory patterning of MSNA following IH would be sex specific. Heart rate, MSNA, and respiration were evaluated in healthy male ( n = 21, 30 ± 5 yr) and female ( n = 10, 28 ± 5 yr) participants during normoxic rest before and after 30 min of IH. Respiratory modulation of MSNA was assessed by fitting polynomials to cross-correlation histograms constructed between sympathetic spikes and respiration. MSNA was elevated after IH in male (20 ± 6 to 24 ± 8 bursts/min) and female (19 ± 8 to 22 ± 10 bursts/min) participants ( P < 0.01). Both male and female participants exhibited respiratory modulation of MSNA ( P < 0.01); however, the pattern differed by sex. After IH, modulation of MSNA within the breath was reduced in male participants ( P = 0.03) but increased in female participants ( P = 0.02). Both male and female adults exhibit changes in respiratory patterning of MSNA after acute IH; however, this pattern differs by sex. These data support sex disparities in respiratory modulation of MSNA and may have implications for conditions such as sleep apnea.
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Edmunds et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=31). Acute intermittent hypoxia vs. Normoxic rest was evaluated on Respiratory modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) (p=<0.01). Acute intermittent hypoxia increased MSNA in both sexes (P<0.01), but respiratory modulation of MSNA was reduced in males (P=0.03) and increased in females (P=0.02).
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