AT1R Blockade and Periodic Breathing During Sleep in Hypoxia

Objective: To determine the effects of angiotensin-II, type-I receptor (AT1R) blockade on the relationship between ventilatory control and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) following a night of hypoxic sleep in healthy humans.

Justification: Ventilatory adaptation to hypoxia is one of two major adaptations permitting humans to acclimatize successfully to high altitude. As the partial pressure of oxygen falls with ascent, the peripheral chemoreceptors are stimulated resulting in an increase in ventilation. The initial hypoxic ventilatory response is aimed at augmenting alveolar PO2 and subsequently arterial PO2, but results in a respiratory alkalosis that can only be compensated for by the reduction of renal excretion of bicarbonate. Despite metabolic compensation, both basal respiratory drive and peripheral chemoreceptor responsiveness remain elevated. Both of these elements of respiratory control have contrasting implications for breathing stability during sleep. The increase in basal ventilation at high altitude attenuates plant gain, a term describing how effectively a change in ventilation changes blood gases. Plant gain is determined by positioning the chemoreflex response on the isometabolic hyperbola. When arterial PCO2 is reduced during acclimatization to high altitude, the point of equilibrium is shifted to a steeper portion of the isometabolic hyperbola where a larger change in ventilation is necessary to evoke a given change in arterial PCO2. This feature is protective in nature and acts to stabilize breathing. However, the slope of the relationship between ventilation and arterial PCO2, termed controller gain, is greatly enhanced at high altitude and this may outweigh the effect on plant gain, destabilizing breathing and predisposing to central sleep apnea. Treatments that reduce controller gain without impacting plant gain might stabilize breathing and reduce the severity of central sleep apnea at high altitude without negatively impacting successful acclimatization.

The carotid body chemoreceptors serve an important regulatory role in controlling alveolar ventilation and their sensitivity is augmented at high altitude. Recent studies have established that the carotid body possesses a local angiotensin system, which contributes to the sensitization of the chemoreflex function in patients with heart failure, sleep apnea, and following exposure to intermittent hypoxia. Indeed, the over-activity of the carotid body contributes to breathing instability and increases the incidence of central apneas. Angiotensin II activates the carotid body and leads to afferent activity. The Type I cells within the carotid body act as a chemical sensor and they express both angiotensinogen and express two angiotensin receptors, AT1R and AT2R. Interestingly, pharmacological blockade of the AT1R has little functional significance at sea level in the normal state. But if chemoreceptor activity is augmented in conditions such as chronic, and intermittent hypoxia, and congestive heart failure, then blockade of the AT1R partially reverses this activity. Whether or not AT1R blockade at high altitude can attenuate the rise in chemoreceptor sensitivity and reduce the severity of sleep apnea in humans is unknown.

Purpose: To determine if blockade of the AT1R can attenuate the ventilatory response to CO2 and reduce the severity of sleep disordered breathing in healthy humans.

Hypothesis: Blockade of the AT1R will reduce the ventilatory sensitivity to CO2 and the severity of SDB in healthy humans following one night of hypoxia.

Research Design General Procedures: Sleep studies will be conducted between 2100hrs and 0600 hrs. Participants will arrive at the laboratory in the evening and will be allowed to sleep in the hypoxic chamber for 8 hours. Ventilatory responses will be assessed prior to entering the hypoxic chamber and immediately upon waking in the morning following sleep study. Either Losartan, an AT1R antagonist, (50 mg/dose; P.O.) or placebo will be administered three times throughout the protocol: the morning of the experimental day, the evening one hour prior to the ventilatory tests and finally the following morning after a night in the hypoxic chamber, one hour prior to the second battery of ventilatory tests. This protocol design is randomized, double blinded and placebo controlled and all participants will complete both experimental arms separated by at least 2 days (i.e. cross-over study design). During the ventilatory tests, participants will be studied in the supine position, 6 hours post-prandial & 24 hours post-caffeine, and breathing through a standard mouthpiece with a nose clamp. Non-invasive measures of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory frequency (fB), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (V̇E), cerebral blood flow [assessed by transcranial Doppler (MCA and PCA)], end-tidal gases (PETCO2 and PETO2) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2; finger pulse oximetry) will be monitored and recorded continuously. Venipuncture will be performed immediately prior to both ventilatory response tests and will be analyzed for plasma renin activity levels to confirm functional angiotensin receptor blockade.