Time-dependent adaptation in the hemodynamic response to hypoxia

In rats, acute exposure to hypoxia causes a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) caused by a predominance of hypoxic vasodilation over chemoreflex-induced vasoconstriction. We previously demonstrated that exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) impairs hypoxic vasodilation in isolated resistance arteries; therefore, we hypothesized that the acute systemic hemodynamic responses to hypoxia would be altered by exposure to CIH. To test this hypothesis, rats were exposed to CIH for 14 days. Heart rate (HR) and MAP were monitored by telemetry. On the first day of CIH exposure, acute episodes of hypoxia caused a decrease in MAP (−9 ± 5 mmHg) and an increase in HR (+45 ± 4 beats/min). On the 14th day of CIH exposure the depressor response was attenuated (−4 ± 1 mmHg; 44% of the day 1 response) and the tachycardia was enhanced (+68 ± 2 beats/min; 151% of the day 1 response). The observed time-dependent modulation of the acute hemodynamic responses to hypoxia may reflect important changes in neurocirculatory regulation that contribute to CIH-induced hypertension.