The role of autacoids and the autonomic nervous system in cardiovascular responses to radio‐frequency energy heating

Summary 1 Among the potential effects of exposure to high levels of radio‐frequency energy (RFE) (which includes microwaves), an increase in body temperature is the primary consequence. Release of autacoids and activity of the autonomic nervous system may influence (or be directly responsible for) some of the physiological changes that occur in conjunction with this hyperthermia. 2 The main focus of this review is the interaction of autacoids and the autonomic nervous system with cardiovascular changes during heating. Differences between environmental and RFE‐induced heating (such as rate of temperature change and degree of skin vs. core heating) may be important when considering these effects. 3 Antihistamines exhibited no beneficial effect on circulatory collapse during RFE‐induced heating. The serotonergic blocker methysergide decreased survival time in rats during terminal RFE exposure, despite no effects on heart rate (HR) or blood pressure. Although blockade of platelet‐activating factor resulted in lower HR before RFE exposure, there was a lack of effect on the subsequent increase in HR during heating. Nitric oxide did not contribute to the hypotension that occurs due to rapid heating by RFE exposure. There have been either no or very limited studies of effects of prostaglandins, bradykinin, or angiotensin on RFE‐induced heating responses. 4 β‐Adrenoceptor antagonism with propranolol resulted in significantly decreased survival times and lower final colonic temperatures during RFE exposure. A lack of effects of nadolol on survival time and temperature, coupled with its poor ability to traverse the blood–brain barrier, suggests that central β‐adrenergic stimulation rather than peripheral stimulation may alter thermoregulation. 5 Effects of the autonomic nervous system (as studied by adrenoceptor blockade) on potassium changes during heating have not been fully investigated. Such changes could be important in animals’ responses to RFE and other modalities of heating, and should be studied in future.