Abstract
ContextThe renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis and its dysfunction relates to negative health consequences. Acute psychosocial stress seems to activate the RAAS in humans, but stress kinetics and interrelations of RAAS parameters compared with a nonstress control group remain inconclusive.ObjectiveWe systematically investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled design stress kinetics and interrelations of the reactivity of RAAS parameters measured in plasma and saliva to standardized acute psychosocial stress induction.Methods58 healthy young men were assigned to either a stress or a placebo control group. The stress group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), while the control group underwent the placebo TSST. We repeatedly assessed plasma renin, and plasma and salivary aldosterone before and up to 3 hours after stress/placebo. We simultaneously assessed salivary cortisol to validate successful stress induction and to test for interrelations.ResultsAcute psychosocial stress induced significant increases in all endocrine measures compared with placebo-stress (all P ≤ .041). Highest renin levels were observed 1 minute after stress, and highest aldosterone and cortisol levels 10 and 20 minutes after stress, with salivary aldosterone starting earlier at 1 minute after stress. Renin completed recovery at 10 minutes, cortisol at 60 minutes, salivary aldosterone at 90 minutes, and plasma aldosterone at 180 minutes after stress. Stress increase scores of all endocrine measures related to each other, as did renin and cortisol areas under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) and salivary and plasma aldosterone AUCi (all P ≤ .047).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that in humans acute psychosocial stress induces a differential and interrelated RAAS parameter activation pattern. Potential implications for stress-related cardiovascular risk remain to be elucidated.
Highlights
We systematically investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled design stress kinetics and interrelations of the reactivity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) parameters measured in plasma and saliva to standardized acute psychosocial stress induction
Dysfunction of the RAAS relates to a variety of adverse health consequences including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors [2,3]
Subjects’ characteristics To account for expected dropouts due to problems with blood sampling we recruited a total of 70 participants with baseline blood sampling after successful venous catheter insertion, with 40 participants in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) group and 30 in the placebo TSST group
Summary
58 healthy young men were assigned to either a stress or a placebo control group. The stress group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), while the control group underwent the placebo TSST. We repeatedly assessed plasma renin, and plasma and salivary aldosterone before and up to 3 hours after stress/placebo. We simultaneously assessed salivary cortisol to validate successful stress induction and to test for interrelations. Study participants We intentionally recruited healthy, medication-free, nonsmoking, young men (18–30 years). The Ethics Committee of the University of Constance, Germany, formally approved the research protocol. The study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki principles. Recruitment was carried out through online requests and advertisements at the University of Constance.
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