Mechanisms underpinning sympathoexcitation in hypoxia

Abstract

Sympathoexcitation is a hallmark of hypoxic exposure, occurring acutely, as well as persisting in acclimatised lowland populations and with generational exposure in highland native populations of the Andean and Tibetan plateaus. The mechanisms mediating altitude sympathoexcitation are multifactorial, involving alterations in both peripheral autonomic reflexes and central neural pathways, and are dependent on the duration of exposure. Initially, hypoxia-induced sympathoexcitation appears to be an adaptive response, primarily mediated by regulatory reflex mechanisms concerned with preserving systemic and cerebral tissue O₂ delivery and maintaining arterial blood pressure. However, as exposure continues, sympathoexcitation is further augmented above that observed with acute exposure, despite acclimatisation processes that restore arterial oxygen content ( $C_{a{O}_2}$ ). Under these conditions, sympathoexcitation may become maladaptive, giving rise to reduced vascular reactivity and mildly elevated blood pressure. Importantly, current evidence indicates the peripheral chemoreflex does not play a significant role in the augmentation of sympathoexcitation during altitude acclimatisation, although methodological limitations may underestimate its true contribution. Instead, processes that provide no obvious survival benefit in hypoxia appear to contribute, including elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. Nocturnal periodic breathing is also a potential mechanism contributing to altitude sympathoexcitation, although experimental studies are required. Despite recent advancements within the field, several areas remain unexplored, including the mechanisms responsible for the apparent normalisation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during intermediate hypoxic exposures, the mechanisms accounting for persistent sympathoexcitation following descent from altitude and consideration of whether there are sex-based differences in sympathetic regulation at altitude.

Keywords: adaptation; altitude acclimatisation; high‐altitude; hypoxia; muscle sympathetic nerve activity; sympathetic nervous system.