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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

Published in:

01-07-2016 | Regular Article

The relationship between widespread changes in gravity and cerebral blood flow

Authors: Yojiro Ogawa, Ryo Yanagida, Kaname Ueda, Ken Aoki, Ken-ichi Iwasaki

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 4/2016

Abstract

Objectives

We investigated the dose–effect relationship between wide changes in gravity from 0 to 2.0 Gz (Δ0.5 Gz) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), to test our hypothesis that CBF has a linear relationship with levels of gravity.

Subjects and methods

Ten healthy seated men were exposed to 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 Gz for 21 min, by using a tilt chair and a short-arm human centrifuge. Steady-state CBF velocity (CBFV) in the middle cerebral artery by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the heart level (MAP_Heart), heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and respiratory conditions were obtained for the last 6 min at each gravity level. Then, MAP in the middle cerebral artery (MAP_MCA), reflecting cerebral perfusion pressure, was estimated.

Results

Steady-state CBFV decreased stepwise from 0.5 to 2.0 Gz. Steady-state heart rate, stroke volume, estimated MAP_MCA and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (ETCO₂) also changed stepwise from hypogravity to hypergravity. On the other hand, steady-state MAP_Heart and cardiac output did not change significantly. Steady-state CBFV positively and linearly correlated with estimated MAP_MCA and ETCO₂ in most subjects.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated stepwise gravity-induced changes in steady-state CBFV from 0.5 to 2.0 Gz despite unchanged steady-state MAP_Heart. The combined effects of reduced MAP_MCA and ETCO₂ likely led to stepwise decreases in CBFV. We caution that a mild increase in gravity from 0 to 2.0 Gz reduces CBF, even if arterial blood pressure at the heart level is maintained.

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Title: The relationship between widespread changes in gravity and cerebral blood flow
Authors: Yojiro Ogawa
Ryo Yanagida
Kaname Ueda
Ken Aoki
Ken-ichi Iwasaki
Publication date: 01-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-016-0513-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The relationship between widespread changes in gravity and cerebral blood flow

Abstract

Objectives

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

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