Why the study?
Complex mechanisms regulating central sympathetic outflow and blood pressure at high altitude remain poorly understood despite evidence dating back to the late 20th century.
This review highlights that sustained sympathoexcitation is a fundamental mechanism for blood pressure regulation during chronic hypoxia at high altitude.
Sustained sympathoexcitation is fundamental to BP control in chronic hypoxia; leaves open central regulatory mechanisms for targeted study.
NEW FINDINGS: What is the topic of the review? Sympathoexcitation and sympathetic control of blood pressure at high altitude. What advances does it highlight? Sustained sympathoexcitation is fundamental to integrative control of blood pressure in humans exposed to chronic hypoxia. The largest gaps in current knowledge are in understanding the complex mechanisms by which central sympathetic outflow is regulated at high altitude. ABSTRACT: High altitude (HA) hypoxia is a potent activator of the sympathetic nervous system, eliciting increases in sympathetic vasomotor activity. Microneurographic evidence of HA sympathoexcitation dates back to the late 20th century, yet only recently have the characteristics and underpinning mechanisms been explored in detail. This review summarises recent findings and highlights the importance of HA sympathoexcitation for the regulation of blood pressure in lowlanders and indigenous highlanders. In addition, this review identifies gaps in our knowledge and corresponding avenues for future study.
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Simpson et al. (2020) studied this question.
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