Summary: A University of Missouri study has uncovered that two neurochemicals, oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), cause overactivity in the brainstem during sleep apnea, which may lead to hypertension over time. The researchers say this discovery could lead to new treatments targeting these neurochemicals to help normalize blood pressure in sleep apnea patients.
Key Takeaways:
- Neurochemical Discovery: Researchers identified oxytocin and CRH as key neurochemicals that cause the brainstem to become overactive during sleep apnea, leading to hypertension over time.
- Potential for New Treatments: They say the findings open the possibility of developing new drugs that target these specific neurochemicals or their pathways to reduce high blood pressure in individuals with sleep apnea.
- Broader Health Implications: Understanding the link between sleep apnea and hypertension could help address related health issues, such as increased risk of stroke, metabolic complications, and cognitive impairments associated with high blood pressure in sleep apnea patients.
A recent University of Missouri study has identified key brain mechanisms linking sleep apnea to hypertension, potentially paving the way for new drugs that target the brainstem to bring blood pressure back down to normal levels for those with sleep apnea.
High blood pressure is often linked with sleep apnea because the brain works harder to regulate blood flow and breathing during sleep. The study offers new insight into the underlying mechanisms within the brain contributing to hypertension for those with sleep apnea.
The study took place in the lab of David Kline, PhD, a professor in Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine and researcher at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center.
Neurochemicals Oxytocin and CRH Identified
“When oxygen levels in the blood drop during sleep apnea, the forebrain sends warning signals to the brainstem area that controls heart and lung functions,” Kline says in a release. “By studying these signals, we found that two neurochemicals, oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), cause the brainstem to become overactive. Over time, this leads to hypertension.”
Hypertension leads to increased risk of stroke, complications for the metabolism, and a variety of other health issues.
“Not only do those with sleep apnea often have high blood pressure, but they also lose a lot of sleep, they have more cognitive and memory issues, and they are more prone to injury at work due to sleepiness,” Kline says in a release.
Pathways for New Therapeutic Approaches
By identifing the role that oxytocin and CRH play in strengthening and overexciting the pathways and mechanisms involved in sleep apnea, Kline and his fellow researchers hope to pave the way for the design of better therapeutic approaches for humans and animals.
“Our ultimate goal is to eventually help clinicians develop specific drugs to target either these neurochemicals or the proteins they bind to in a way that reduces high blood pressure,” Kline says in a release. “This discovery opens the door for future research to block the pathways these neurochemicals use, ultimately helping to bring blood pressure back to normal levels.”
The study was published in The Journal of Physiology.
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