Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Reduces Skin Blood Flow in Humans
Abstract
Five subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer for 30 min at 55% peak VO2 on two occasions in a slightly warm environment. Pyridostigmine bromide (PYR), an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, was ingested (30 mg) approximately 150 min before one experiment, and no drug was administered during the other experiment (control). Red cell AChE inhibition averaged during PYR treatment. Esophageal temperature (Tes), a derived mean skin temperature, forearm blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography), cutaneous perfusion, and metabolic rate were measured. Cutaneous perfusion decreased after PYR treatment compared to control. Forearm blood flow, which included inactive muscle, skin, fat and bone tissue, was not different between treatments, which implies that blood flow to one of those tissues may have increased while skin blood flow decreased during PYR treatment. The increased threshold for initiation of cutaneous vasodilation with AChE inhibition by PYR suggests that the drug activates central modulation of thermoregulation. One of several possible mechanisms activated may be through increased ACh accumulation at preganglionic sites. This could potentiate adrenergic transmission to cutaneous blood vessels, and enhance vasoconstrictor tone. Keywords: Body temperature regulation, Sweating, Vasoconstrictor tone, anticholinesterase, Pyridostigmine bromide; Drug effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209615
Entities
People
- Lou A. Stephenson
- Margaret A. Kolka
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine