gastrins and Hypotension--Orthostatic

Plasma endocrine hormones were studied in both 24 motion sickness (orthostatic intolerance) and healthy pilots. Coriolis acceleration of 3.75, 5.00 and 6.25 pi 2 cm/s2 were given with intervals of 3-4 min AT-II, insulin, cortisol, Aldosterone and gastrin were determined by radioimmunoassay. It was found that aldosterone, AT-II, gastrin increased with increase of coriolis acceleration in all pilots. (P < 0.05), but cortisol and insulin only increased in healthy pilots (P < 0.05). It suggests excitation of the autonomic nervous system might be insufficient in orthostatic intolerant pilots and that determination of endocrine hormones may be useful in the evaluation of autonomic nervous activities.

Topics: Acceleration; Adult; Aldosterone; Angiotensin II; Autonomic Nervous System; Coriolis Force; Gastrins; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Insulin; Motion Sickness

High basal gastrin levels in pure autonomic failure could result from peripheral vagus nerve involvement, whereas the increased response during hypoglycaemia may reflect adrenergic supersensitivity. A reduced gastrin increment in multiple system atrophy was found following insulin-hypoglycaemia and is consistent with decreased gastrin release secondary to diminished central sympathetic nervous system activation in the absence of peripheral denervation supersensitivity.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Blood Glucose; Epinephrine; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Insulin; Male; Middle Aged; Norepinephrine; Stomach; Sympathetic Nervous System