Regulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow is related to measures of vascular and autonomic function

• Published in: Clinical science (1979) Vol. 119; no. 7-8; pp. 313 - 322
• Main Authors: FUNADA, Jun-Ichi, DENNIS, A. Louise, ROBERTS, Rachel, KARPE, Fredrik, FRAYN, Keith N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Portland Press 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Body Mass Index; Brachial Artery - diagnostic imaging; Brachial Artery - physiology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Fasting - physiology; Female; General aspects; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Sex Characteristics; Subcutaneous Fat - blood supply; Ultrasonography; Vasodilation - physiology; Young Adult; Endocrinopathy; Pancreatic hormone; Endothelial cell; Adipose tissue; Cardiac frequency; Variability; adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF); Body mass index; Regulation(control); heart rate variability; Blood vessel; Subcutaneous tissue; Quantitative analysis; endothelial function; flow-mediated vasodilatation; Metabolic diseases; Insulin; Blood flow; Endothelium; Medicine; Heart rate; Target tissue resistance; Insulin resistance; Circulatory system; Hemodynamics
• ISSN: 0143-5221; 1470-8736
• DOI: 10.1042/CS20100066

Appropriate blood vessel function is important to cardiovascular health. Adipose tissue plays an important role in metabolic homoeostasis, and subcutaneous abdominal ATBF (adipose tissue blood flow) is responsive to nutritional stimuli. This response is impaired in obesity, suggesting parallels with endothelial function. In the present study, we assessed whether regulation of ATBF is related to the regulation of endothelial function, assessed by FMD (flow-mediated vasodilatation) of the brachial artery. Impaired FMD is a marker of atherosclerotic risk, so we also assessed relationships between ATBF and a marker of atherosclerosis, common carotid artery IMT (intima-media thickness). As ATBF is responsive to sympatho-adrenal stimuli, we also investigated relationships with HRV (heart rate variability). A total of 79 healthy volunteers (44 female) were studied after fasting and after ingestion of 75 g of glucose. FMD, fasting ATBF and the responsiveness of ATBF to glucose were all negatively related to BMI (body mass index), confirming the adverse cardiovascular effects of adiposity. FMD was related to fasting ATBF (rs=0.32, P=0.008) and, at least in males, this relationship was independent of BMI (P=0.02). Common carotid artery IMT, measured in a subset of participants, was negatively related to fasting ATBF [rs=-0.51, P=0.02 (n=20)]. On the other hand, ATBF responsiveness to glucose had no relationship with either FMD or IMT. In multiple regression models, both fasting and stimulated ATBF had relationships with HRV. In conclusion, our results show that the regulation of ATBF has features in common with endothelial function, but also relationships with autonomic cardiovascular control as reflected in HRV.