Quantitative correlation between cardiovascular and plasma epinephrine response to mental stress

Abstract

To investigate the quantitative correlations between cardiovascular and endogenous catecholamine response to mental stress, we gave a mental arithmetic test to 20 young healthy men. A direct and non-invasive haemodynamic measurement was performed by serial M-mode echocardiography. Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, ejection fraction, left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume ratio and plasma epinephrine increased over the baseline period during the test. The peripheral resistance and left ventricular end-systolic volume decreased, whereas left ventricular end-diastolic volume and plasma norepinephrine were unaltered. Furthermore, the degree of change in each haemodynamic parameter showing significant reaction, was well correlated with that of the increase in plasma epinephrine. The data suggest that acute mental stress induces endogenous epinephrine secretion resulting in a beta-adrenergic activated state in the cardiovascular system, namely, positive chronotropism, positive inotropism and vasodilatation.

Neuroendocrine and Psychophysiologic Responses in PTSD: A Symptom Provocation Study

“…In contrast with previous symptom provocation studies in PTSD, we did find significant correlations between plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels both at baseline and in response to stimulation in all the subjects. When Epi and NE responses were studied in other paradigms, epinephrine was found to respond consistently to all types of stress-mental arithmetic, Stroop Test, public speaking, psychiatric examination, parachute jumping and traumatic films (Dimsdale et al 1987;Kaji et al 1989;Kemmer et al 1986;Richter et al 1996); whereas, NE responses were detected in fewer specific situations-public speaking, interview, and parachute jumping (Dimsdale et al 1987;Kemmer et al 1986;Richter et al 1996). In these studies, consistent with our findings, when a NE response was present, a significant correlation existed between Epi and NE responses.…”

A Review of the Evidence for a Neuroendocrine Link Between Stress, Depression and Diabetes Mellitus

“…Two studies showed that mental stress tests in healthy individuals without depression or cardiovascular disease resulted in a rise in plasma epinephrine that paralleled the rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output occurring during the stressor [68,69]. Hughes et al found that among healthy women, higher levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety were associated with increased urinary norepinephrine excretion [70].…”

Beta-adrenergic cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation to stress: The cardiac pre-ejection period as an index of effort.

“…We have argued that PEP reactivity is a sensitive index of the fight-flight response and the mobilization of effort in preparation for action (Kelsey, 1991;Kelsey et al, 1999Kelsey et al, , 2000Kelsey et al, , 2001Kelsey et al, , 2004, with beta-adrenergic sympathetic activation providing the mediating mechanism (Berntson et al, 1994;Kelsey et al, 2010;McCubbin et al, 1983;Mezzacappa et al, 1999;Sherwood et al, 1986). Epinephrine is likely to play a key role because it is the quintessential hormone of the fight-flight response, as well as a crucial component of the physiological response to novelty, uncertainty, mental work, and effortful active coping (Frankenhaeuser, 1971;Kaji et al, 1989;McCubbin et al, 1983). Our program of research on cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation to stress has evaluated PEP and other cardiovascular measures during active and passive coping conditions and during recurrent mental arithmetic stress.…”