Cardiovascular responses and tolerance to an orthostatic stress were examined in eight men before and after eight months of endurance exercise training. Following training, maximal oxygen consumption and blood volume were increased, and resting heart rate reduced. Orthostatic tolerance was reduced following training in all eight subjects. It was concluded that prolonged endurance training decreased orthostatic tolerance and this decrease in tolerance appeared associated with attenuated baroreflex sensitivity and alterations in autonomic balance secondary to an increased parasympathetic tone noted with training.

Cardiovascular and hormonal responses to +700 head-up tilt (HUT: orthostatic challenge) were compared between six endurance exercise trained (ET) and six untrained (UT) subjects prior to and immediately following 4 hours of -60 head-down rest (HDR). The ET subjects showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in orthostatic tolerance time (pre syncopal symptoms) during post-HDR HUT, while no difference was observed between ET and UT groups in pre-HDR HUT. The volume regulatory hormonal responses were similar between ET and UT groups whether during HUT or HDR. The pre-syncopal subjects had a greater increase in plasma arginine vasopressin and less increase in plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone during HUT than was observed in non syncopal subjects. These data suggest that HDR deconditioning was more effective in the ET subjects.

Les atteintes posturales sont des conséquences connues du vol spatial. Un des facteurs de stabilité orthostatique et postural est le tonus musculaire, qui chute en microgravité. Les études sur les effets cardiovasculaires, neuromusculaires et posturaux de la microgravité sont nombreuses ; pourtant, le rôle des troubles neuromusculaires et cardiovasculaires dans l’atteinte orthostatique et posturale reste peu connu. Notre but était d’étudier des altérations vasculaires et neuromusculaires induites par la microgravité, ainsi que les liens entre eux. Nos études chez l’homme comprenaient un vol spatial de 6 mois, un alitement antiorthostatique de 21 jours et une immersion sèche de 3 à 5 jours. Ces conditions diffèrent par le niveau de stimulation d’appui. L'état cardiovasculaire a été évalué par des tests orthostatiques, neuromusculaire - par myotonométrie et la stabilité posturale - par stabilométrie. Notre travail montre qu’un vol de longue durée induit des troubles bien plus profonds que la microgravité simulé plus courte. De plus, l'immersion sèche induit des troubles plus graves que l'alitement, malgré sa durée plus courte. Nos données suggèrent que c'est la décharge d’appui qui définit la profondeur des perturbations. Le rôle principal de la diminution du tonus des muscles posturaux est mis en avant. Cette diminution se produit par voie réflexe par diminution d’afferentation des zones d’appui. Elle pourrait être responsable de l’intolérance orthostatique via la diminution de l'efficacité de la pompe musculaire favorisant le retour veineux, et de l’instabilité posturale - via l'augmentation des seuils de recrutement des motoneurones posturaux. / Postural and orthostatic impairment are both acknowledged consequences of spaceflight. One of the factors for orthostatic and postural stability is muscle tone, which decreases within the onset of microgravity. Studies of cardiovascular, neuromuscular and postural effects of microgravity are numerous ; yet the role of neuromuscular and vascular disorders in orthostatic and postural impairment remains unclear. We aimed to investigate vascular and neuromuscular alterations induced by microgravity, as well as their relationships. We studied healthy men exposed to 6-mo spaceflight, 21-day head-down bedrest and 3-to 5-day dry immersion. These conditions differ by the level of support unloading. Cardiovascular state was assessed by orthostatic tests, neuromuscular - by myotonometry, postural stability - by stabilometry. We found that long-term spaceflight induced much deeper disorders than relatively short-term modeled microgravity. Furthermore, immersion induced more severe disorders than bedrest, despite its shorter duration. Our data, along with literature, suggest that it is the support unloading that defines the depth of disturbances. The leading role in development of postural disorders under gravitational unloading belongs to decrease in postural muscle tone. This decrease occurs mainly by a reflex mechanism (decrease in support afferentation). It might be responsible for orthostatic impairment - via decrease in the efficiency of muscle pump promoting venous return, and for postural impairment - via increase in recruitment thresholds of postural motoneurons.

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.

Introdução: Síncope e sintomas ortostáticos são comuns em pessoas saudáveis. A suplementação de sal é utilizada em pacientes com melhora na resposta pressora e aumento da tolerância ortostática. Nós testamos à hipótese de que uma suplementação de sal aumentaria a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis. Métodos e Resultados: Vinte voluntários saudáveis (13 do sexo feminino, idade 29 ± 5,6 anos), sem história de síncope, foram submetidos ao teste inclinação ortostática, em um ângulo de 70 graus, por 35 minutos ou até que sintomas de pré-síncope ou síncope fossem observados. Foram randomizados e cruzados para receber 6g de sal em um dos exames e placebo no outro, 3 horas antes, em um protocolo duplo-cego. Para avaliar para-efeitos, foram avaliados índices clínicos e laboratoriais. A ingestão de sal melhorou a tolerância ortostática em 11 de 12 voluntários (55%) que apresentaram présincope ou síncope (variação de 1 a 6 minutos). O tempo com a suplementação de sal foi de 33,35 ± 4,1 minutos e com placebo 31,95 ± 4,4 minutos (média ± DP; p = 0,009), a tolerância ortostática diferiu em 1,4 ± 2,09 minutos (IC 95%, 0,42 - 2,37 minutos). A pressão arterial sistólica, a diastólica e a freqüência cardíaca na posição supina não alteraram de forma significativa. No entanto, a pressão arterial sistólica e a diastólica (120,85 ± 30,9 e 78,75 ± 20,6 mmHg) mantiveram-se mais elevadas ao término do exame com a suplementação de sal quando comparadas com o placebo (99,2 ± 29,8 e 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0,006 e p = 0,007, respectivamente). Conclusão: A suplementação de sal parece melhorar a tolerância ortostática em voluntários saudáveis, sem alterar as variáveis clínicas em repouso. / Background: Orthostatic symptoms and syncope are common in healthy subjects. Salt supplementation can be used in patients showing improvement in the pressor response and increase in the orthostatic tolerance. We tested the hypothesis that single salt supplementation increases the orthostatic tolerance in healthy subjects. Methods e Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 females, 29.05 ± 5.57 years old), without syncope history, were submitted to head-up tilt test, at an angle of 70 degrees, for 35 minutes or until presyncope or syncope were observed. They were randomized and crossover to receive 6g of salt in one of the exams and placebo in the other, 3 hours before, in a double-blind protocol. To evaluate for side effects, there were evaluate clinical and laboratorial indexes. Ingestion of salt improved orthostatic tolerance in 11 out of 12 volunteers who presented presyncope or syncope (variation from 1 to 6 minutes). The time with salt supplementation was of 33.35 ± 4.1 minutes and with placebo it was of 31.95 ± 4.4 minutes (mean ± SD; p = 0.009), orthostatic tolerance differed in 1.4 ± 2.09 minutes (95% CI, 0.42 - 2.37 minutes). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the supine position did not change significantly with salt or with the placebo. However, Systolic and diastolic blood pressure with salt supplementation (120.85 ± 30.9 mmHg and 78.75 ± 20.6 mmHg) were higher at the end of the exam when compared to placebo (99.2 ± 29.8 and 64 ± 21 mmHg; p = 0.006 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Salt supplementation seems to improve orthostatic tolerance in healthy volunteers without changing clinical variables at rest.