Interaction between graviception and carotid baroreflex function in humans during parabolic flight-induced microgravity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess carotid baroreflex (CBR) function during acute changes in otolithic activity in humans. To address this question, we designed a set of experiments to identify the modulatory effects of microgravity on CBR function at a tilt angle of −2°, which was identified to minimize changes in central blood volume during parabolic flight. During parabolic flight at 0 and 1 g, CBR function curves were modeled from the heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to rapid pulse trains of neck pressure and neck suction ranging from +40 to −80 Torr; CBR control of HR (carotid-HR) and MAP (carotid-MAP) function curves, respectively. The maximal gain of both carotid-HR and carotid-MAP baroreflex function curves were augmented during microgravity compared with 1 g (carotid-HR, −0.53 to −0.80 beats·min−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05; carotid-MAP, −0.24 to −0.30 mmHg/mmHg, P < 0.05). These findings suggest that parabolic flight-induced acute change of otolithic activity may modify CBR function and identifies that the vestibular system contributes to blood pressure regulation under fluctuations in gravitational forces. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The effect of acute changes in vestibular activity on arterial baroreflex function remains unclear. In the present study, we assessed carotid baroreflex function without changes in central blood volume during parabolic flight, which causes acute changes in otolithic activity. The sensitivity of both carotid heart rate and carotid mean arterial pressure baroreflex function was augmented in microgravity compared with 1 g, suggesting that the vestibular system contributes to blood pressure regulation in humans on Earth.