Periodic acceleration enhances release of nitric oxide in healthy adults

Abstract

Periodic acceleration in the direction of the spinal axis through repetitive movements of a horizontal motion platform increases intravascular pulsatile shear stress. We hypothesized that periodic acceleration enhances release of nitric oxide (NO) in healthy subjects. We enrolled 8 healthy volunteers [39 ± 10 (SD) years]. Periodic acceleration was applied with the motion platform at a frequency of 2–3 Hz with approximately ± 0.25 g for 45 min in the fasting state. The procedure was repeated 20 times over 31 ± 10 days. Venous blood was sampled to determine plasma levels of NO, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) before and immediately after the first and 20th session. All the 8 subjects completed the 20 sessions without any adverse side effect. Periodic acceleration significantly increased the plasma levels of endproducts of NO from 17 ± 3 μmol/L at baseline and immediately after the first session to 24 ± 9 μmol/L immediately after the 20th session (each p < 0.05). Treatment with the motion platform did not change significantly the plasma levels of VEGF, t-PA, and MCP-1. These findings provide new evidence that periodic acceleration with the motion platform enhances release of NO.