Influence of indomethacin on the ventilatory and cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypoxia

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Apr;111(4):601-10. doi: 10.1007/s00421-010-1679-0. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

Abstract

Indomethacin (INDO) has the potential to be a useful tool to explore the influence of cerebral blood flow and its responses to CO(2) on ventilatory control. However, the effect of INDO on the cerebrovascular and ventilatory response to hypoxia remains unclear; therefore, we examined the effect of INDO on ventilatory and cerebrovascular sensitivity to hypoxia and hypercapnia. We measured end-tidal gases, ventilation (V(e)), and middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) before and 90 min following INDO (100 mg) in 12 healthy participants at rest and during hyperoxic hypercapnia and isocapnic hypoxia. Following INDO, resting VE and end-tidal gases were unaltered (P > 0.05), whilst MCAv was lowered by 25 ± 19% (P < 0.001). INDO ingestion reduced MCAv-CO(2) reactivity by 46 ± 29% (2.9 ± 0.9 vs. 1.7 ± 0.9 cm s(-1) mmHg(-1); P < 0.001) and enhanced the VE-CO(2) sensitivity by 0.5 ± 0.5 L min(-1) mmHg(-1) (1.9 ± 1.5 vs. 2.3 ± 1.6 L min(-1) mmHg(-1); P < 0.05). No changes were observed in either the MCAv or VE responsiveness to isocapnic hypoxia following INDO ingestion (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that INDO does not alter cerebrovascular and ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxia, indicating a preserved peripheral chemoreflex in response to this pharmacological agent.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / drug effects*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercapnia / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypercapnia / pathology
  • Hypoxia, Brain / pathology*
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / drug effects
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / physiology
  • Pulmonary Ventilation / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Ventilation / physiology
  • Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Indomethacin