Regulation of blood flow at the onset of exercise by feed forward and feedback mechanisms

Adaptive biohybrid pumping machine with flow loop feedback

Tissue-engineered living machines is an emerging discipline that employs complex interactions between living cells and engineered scaffolds to self-assemble biohybrid systems for diverse scientific research and technological applications. Here, we report an adaptive, autonomous biohybrid pumping machine with flow loop feedback powered by engineered living muscles. The tissue is made from skeletal muscle cells (C2C12) and collagen  /Matrigel matrix, which self-assembles into a ring that compresses a soft tube connected at both ends to a rigid fluidic platform. The muscle ring contracts in a cyclic fashion autonomously, squeezing the tube forming an impedance pump. The resulting flow is circulated back to the muscle ring forming a feedback loop, which allows the pump to respond to the cues received from the flow it generates and adaptively manage its pumping performances based on the feedback. The developed biohybrid pumping system may have broad utility and impact in health, medicine and bioengineering.

Robust Control Design of Heart Rate Response during Treadmill Exercise under Parametric Uncertainty

Rehabilitation (Rehab) exercise can benefit cardiac patients as it can promote the recovery and improve the heart wellness. However, heart failure (HF) patients can only take mild exercise, since excessive exercise may lead to fatal events. It is important to control the exercise intensity at a desired level to maximize exercise benefit. Heart Rate (HR) is an essential factor for measuring exercise intensity. Mathematical models of HR can be used to study exercise physiology. However, HR models involve model uncertainty, resulting from model calibration or variability in patients. It is important to quantify the effect of uncertainty on HR prediction for optimizing exercise intensity, such as treadmill speed. A probabilistic model-based control design is presented in this work to obtain an optimal treadmill speed for Rehab exercise in the presence of uncertainty. To obtain a computationally tractable formulation, the generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) theory is used to propagate uncertainty via a model to HR predictions, and predict slow-acting responses such as peripheral local metabolism that can be used to evaluate exercise outcome for individual patients. The speed control of treadmill is formulated as an optimization problem that can maximize the exercise outcome, while minimizing the slow-acting effects. The effectiveness of the proposed control design was experimentally verified with simulations, showing potentials in the exercise control of individual patients.

The Role Of Parafacial Neurons In The Control Of Breathing During Exercise

Neuronal cell groups residing within the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) and C1 area of the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata contribute to the maintenance of resting respiratory activity and arterial blood pressure, and play an important role in the development of cardiorespiratory responses to metabolic challenges (such as hypercapnia and hypoxia). In rats, acute silencing of neurons within the parafacial region which includes the RTN and the rostral aspect of the C1 circuit (pF_RTN/C1), transduced to express HM₄D (G_i-coupled) receptors, was found to dramatically reduce exercise capacity (by 60%), determined by an intensity controlled treadmill running test. In a model of simulated exercise (electrical stimulation of the sciatic or femoral nerve in urethane anaesthetised spontaneously breathing rats) silencing of the pF_RTN/C1 neurons had no effect on cardiovascular changes, but significantly reduced the respiratory response during steady state exercise. These results identify a neuronal cell group in the lower brainstem which is critically important for the development of the respiratory response to exercise and, determines exercise capacity.

Predicting blood flow responses to rhythmic handgrip exercise from one second isometric contractions

The aim of this work was to predict blood flow responses to rhythmic handgrip exercise from one second isometric contractions. Seven healthy men were studied. Each subject performed a single 1 s handgrip contraction at 10 %, 20 % and 40 % of the maximum handgrip strength. We then repeatedly summed hyperaemic responses from single contractions to predict hyperaemic response to a prolonged bout of rhythmic exercise. There was similarity between steady state brachial blood flow velocity (BBV) extrapolated from single handgrip contractions and during 2 min of rhythmic exercise for 20 % (10.0+/-3.8 cm/s vs. 10.2+/-2.6 cm/s, r=0.93, p=0.003) and 40 % of maximum contractions (14.2+/-5.5 cm/s vs. 15.6+/-3.4 cm/s, r=0.88, p=0.009), but not for 10 % (7.5+/-4.1 cm/s vs. 5.7+/-3.3 cm/s, r=0.94, p=0.018). BBV progressively rose substantially higher during rhythmic contractions than peak BBV observed during single contractions at matched intensity. Respective peak BBV during single contractions and steady state BBV rhythmic contractions were 4.4+/-2.1 and 5.7+/-3.3 cm.s(-1) at 10 % forearm strength (p=0.14), 5.6+/-2.4 and 10.2+/-2.8 cm.s(-1) at 20 % (p=0.002), and 7.0+/-2.5 and 15.6+/-3.6 cm.s(-1) at 40 % (p=0.003). In conclusion, there is similarity between the summated blood flow velocity calculated from a single 1 s muscle contraction and the steady state blood flow velocity response of rhythmic exercise.

Changes in systemic and pulmonary blood flow distribution in normal adult volunteers in response to posture and exercise: a phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging study

Hemodynamics are usually evaluated in the supine position at rest. This is only a snapshot of an individual's daily activities. This study describes circulatory adaptation, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, to changes in position and exercise. Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging of blood flow within systemic and pulmonary arteries and veins was performed in 24 healthy volunteers at rest in the prone and supine position and with bicycle exercise in the supine position. No change was seen in systemic blood flow when moving from prone to supine. Exercise resulted in an increased percentage of cardiac output towards the lower body. Changes in position resulted in a redistribution of blood flow within the left lung--supine positioning resulted in decreased blood flow to the left lower pulmonary vein. With exercise, both the right and left lower lobes received increased blood flow, while the upper lobes received less.

Peripheral circulation

Blood flow (BF) increases with increasing exercise intensity in skeletal, respiratory, and cardiac muscle. In humans during maximal exercise intensities, 85% to 90% of total cardiac output is distributed to skeletal and cardiac muscle. During exercise BF increases modestly and heterogeneously to brain and decreases in gastrointestinal, reproductive, and renal tissues and shows little to no change in skin. If the duration of exercise is sufficient to increase body/core temperature, skin BF is also increased in humans. Because blood pressure changes little during exercise, changes in distribution of BF with incremental exercise result from changes in vascular conductance. These changes in distribution of BF throughout the body contribute to decreases in mixed venous oxygen content, serve to supply adequate oxygen to the active skeletal muscles, and support metabolism of other tissues while maintaining homeostasis. This review discusses the response of the peripheral circulation of humans to acute and chronic dynamic exercise and mechanisms responsible for these responses. This is accomplished in the context of leading the reader on a tour through the peripheral circulation during dynamic exercise. During this tour, we consider what is known about how each vascular bed controls BF during exercise and how these control mechanisms are modified by chronic physical activity/exercise training. The tour ends by comparing responses of the systemic circulation to those of the pulmonary circulation relative to the effects of exercise on the regional distribution of BF and mechanisms responsible for control of resistance/conductance in the systemic and pulmonary circulations.

The anticancer drug tamoxifen counteracts the pathology in a mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe disorder characterized by progressive muscle wasting,respiratory and cardiac impairments, and premature death. No treatment exists so far, and the identification of active substances to fight DMD is urgently needed. We found that tamoxifen, a drug used to treat estrogen-dependent breast cancer, caused remarkable improvements of muscle force and of diaphragm and cardiac structure in the mdx(5Cv) mouse model of DMD. Oral tamoxifen treatment from 3 weeks of age for 15 months at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day stabilized myofiber membranes, normalized whole body force, and increased force production and resistance to repeated contractions of the triceps muscle above normal values. Tamoxifen improved the structure of leg muscles and diminished cardiac fibrosis by~ 50%. Tamoxifen also reduced fibrosis in the diaphragm, while increasing its thickness,myofiber count, and myofiber diameter, thereby augmenting by 72% the amount of contractile tissue available for respiratory function. Tamoxifen conferred a markedly slower phenotype to the muscles.Tamoxifen and its metabolites were present in nanomolar concentrations in plasma and muscles,suggesting signaling through high-affinity targets. Interestingly, the estrogen receptors ERa and ERb were several times more abundant in dystrophic than in normal muscles, and tamoxifen normalized the relative abundance of ERb isoforms. Our findings suggest that tamoxifen might be a useful therapy for DMD.

Effect of altered arterial perfusion pressure on vascular conductance and muscle blood flow dynamic response during exercise in humans

Changes in vascular conductance (VC) are required to counter changes in muscle perfusion pressure (MPP) to maintain muscle blood flow (MBF) during exercise. We investigated the recruitment of VC as a function of peak VC measured in three body positions at two different work rates to test the hypothesis that adaptations in VC compensated changes in MPP at low-power output (LPO), but not at high-power output (HPO). Eleven healthy volunteers exercised at LPO and HPO (repeated plantar flexion contractions at 20–30% maximal voluntary contraction, respectively) in horizontal (HOR), 35° head-down tilt (HDT), and 45° head-up tilt (HUT). Muscle blood flow velocity and popliteal diameter were measured by ultrasound to determine MBF, and VC was estimated by dividing MBF flow by MPP. Peak VC was unaffected by body position. The rates of increase in MBF and VC were significantly faster in HUT and slower in HDT than HOR, and rates were faster in LPO than HPO. During LPO exercise, the increase in, and steady-state values of, MBF were less for HUT and HDT than HOR; the increase in VC was less in HUT than HOR and HDT. During HPO exercise, MBF in the HDT was reduced compared with HOR and HUT, even though VC reached 92% VC peak, which was greater than HOR, which was, in turn, greater than HUT. Reduced MBF during HPO HDT exercise had the functional consequence of a significant increase in muscle electromyographic index, revealing the effects of MPP on O2 delivery during exercise.

Effect of hypoxia on the dynamic response of hyperaemia in the contracting human calf muscle

Although systemic hypoxia increases the muscle hyperaemic response during 'steady-state' exercise, its effect on the dynamic characteristics of this response is not clear. In the present study, we first established that hypoxia increases the steady-state hyperaemic response at low workloads during calf exercise. To study dynamic aspects of this response, eight subjects performed eight exercise trials while breathing a normoxic (fractional inspired O(2) = 0.2094) or hypoxic gas mixture (fractional inspired O(2) = 0.105). Subjects performed intermittent contractions (1 s) of the calf muscle at 20% maximal voluntary contraction, and the leg blood flow (LBF), leg vascular conductance (LVC) and EMG activities of the triceps surae muscles were measured during each contraction-relaxation period (3 s). The LBF and LVC responses were averaged for each subject and fitted using a four-phase, exponential growth and decay function. Hypoxia evoked significant increases in the change in LBF (15%) and LVC (23%) from the start to the end of exercise, as well as the amplitude of the rapid growth phase of LBF and LVC (21%). Similar, but non-significant, effects on the amplitude of the slow growth phase of LBF (P = 0.08) and LVC (P = 0.10) were observed. By contrast, hypoxia had no effect on temporal parameters of these growth phases, parameters defining the decay phases or EMG activities. These results suggest that the effect of hypoxia on exercise hyperaemia is targeted at the rapid and perhaps the slow growth phase of the response, and is not mediated by a change in the level of muscle activation.

Effects of prior heavy-intensity exercise on oxygen uptake and muscle deoxygenation kinetics of a subsequent heavy-intensity cycling and knee-extension exercise

This study examined the effects of prior heavy-intensity exercise on the adjustment of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO(2p)) and muscle deoxygenation Δ[HHb] during the transition to subsequent heavy-intensity cycling (CE) or knee-extension (KE) exercise. Nine young adults (aged 24 ± 5 years) performed 4 repetitions of repeated bouts of heavy-intensity exercise separated by light-intensity CE and KE, which included 6 min of baseline exercise, a 6-min step of heavy-intensity exercise (H1), 6-min recovery, and a 6-min step of heavy-intensity exercise (H2). Exercise was performed at 50 r·min(-1) or contractions per minute per leg. Oxygen uptake (VO(2)) mean response time was ∼20% faster (p < 0.05) during H2 compared with H1 in both modalities. Phase 2 time constants (τ) were not different between heavy bouts of CE (H1, 29.6 ± 6.5 s; H2, 28.0 ± 4.6 s) or KE exercise (H1, 31.6 ± 6.7 s; H2, 29.8 ± 5.6 s). The VO(2) slow component amplitude was lower (p < 0.05) in H2 in both modalities (CE, 0.19 ± 0.06 L·min(-1); KE, 0.12 ± 0.07 L·min(-1)) compared with H1 (CE, 0.29 ± 0.09 L·min(-1); KE, 0.18 ± 0.07 L·min(-1)), with the contribution of the slow component to the total VO(2) response reduced (p < 0.05) in H2 during both exercise modes. The effective τHHb was similar between bouts for CE (H1, 18.2 ± 3.0 s; H2, 18.0 ± 3.6 s) and KE exercise (H1, 26.0 ± 7.0 s; H2, 24.0 ± 5.8 s). The ΔHHb slow component was reduced during H2 in both CE and KE (p < 0.05). In conclusion, phase 2 VO(2p) was unchanged with priming exercise; however, a faster mean response time of VO(2p) during the heavy-intensity exercise preceded by a priming heavy-intensity exercise was attributed to a smaller slow component and reduced muscle deoxygenation indicative of improved muscle O(2) delivery during the second bout of exercise.

Age-related prolongation of phase I of VO2 on-kinetics in healthy humans

Data are lacking regarding age-related modifications of phase I (PhI) of pulmonary Vo(2) on-kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise. We studied three groups (aged 20-30, 40-50, and 60-70 years) of 10 normal subjects, who underwent one incremental and four below-gas exchange threshold constant-power cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Data from constant-power tests were time-aligned and averaged, and the PhI-phase II transition (PhI-IItr) determined when a sharp decrease from baseline of respiratory exchange ratio occurred. The Vo(2) phase II time constant (tau) was obtained by an exponential fitting starting 1) from PhI-IItr ("experimental" fitting strategy) and 2) after 20 s from exercise onset ("fixed-duration" fitting strategy). Assuming estimated arterial-venous O(2) concentration difference not to change with respect to resting value, cardiac output (CO) values at rest and PhI-IItr were obtained according to Fick's principle. Average pulmonary flow acceleration (AFA) during PhI was calculated as the ratio between CO increase during PhI and PhI duration. PhI duration was related to age (r = 0.74, P < 0.0001), increasing from 21 +/- 3 s to 27 +/- 3 s to 32 +/- 4 s in the 20-30, 40-50, and 60-70 age groups, respectively, and to AFA (r = -0.60, P < 0.001), but not to CO increase during PhI. With respect to the experimental fitting strategy, the fixed-duration strategy overestimated Vo(2) phase II tau the more the higher the subject's age, with a lower goodness of fit in the 60-70 group (SE 0.035 vs. 0.056, P < 0.01). In conclusion, PhI duration is related to age in healthy male humans and is linked to CO acceleration-rather than to increase-during PhI. A significant overestimation of phase II tau thus may occur in healthy elderly subjects and patients with a pathologically induced longer PhI duration when fitting data where the PhI-PhIItr was not experimentally determined but assumed to be a set value (i.e., 20 s).

Nonlinear modeling and control of human heart rate response during exercise with various work load intensities

The first objective of this paper is to introduce a nonlinear system to model the heart rate (HR) response during and after treadmill walking exercise. The model is a feedback interconnected system that has components to describe the central and peripheral local responses to exercise and their interactions. The parameters of the model were experimentally identified from subjects walking on a treadmill at different speeds. The stability of the obtained nonlinear model was mathematically proven. The modeling results demonstrate that the proposed model can be useful in examining the cardiovascular response to exercise. Based on the nonlinear model, the second objective is to present a computer-controlled treadmill system for the regulation of HR during treadmill exercise. The proposed nonlinear controller consists of feedforward and feedback components. The designed control system was experimentally verified and the results demonstrated that the proposed computer-controlled treadmill system regulated the HR of the experimental subjects according to two different exercising HR profiles, indicating that it can play an important role in the design of exercise protocols for individuals.

Effects of prior heavy exercise on heterogeneity of muscle deoxygenation kinetics during subsequent heavy exercise

We investigated the effects of prior heavy exercise on the spatial heterogeneity of muscle deoxygenation kinetics and the relationship to the pulmonary O(2) uptake (pVO(2)) kinetics during subsequent heavy exercise. Seven healthy men completed two 6-min bouts of heavy work rate cycling exercise, separated by 6 min of unloaded exercise. The changes in the concentration of deoxyhemoglobin/myoglobin (Delta deoxy-[Hb+Mb]) were assessed simultaneously at 10 different sites on the rectus femoris muscle using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy. Prior exercise had no effect on either the time constant or the amplitude of the primary component pVO(2), whereas it reduced the amplitude of the slow component (SC). Delta deoxy-[Hb+Mb] across all 10 sites for bout 2 displayed a shorter time delay (mean and SD for subjects: 13.5 +/- 1.3 vs. 9.3 +/- 1.4 s; P < 0.01) and slower primary component time constant (tau: 9.3 +/- 1.3 vs. 17.8 +/- 1.0 s; P < 0.01) compared with bout 1. Prior exercise significantly reduced both the intersite coefficient of variation (CV) of the tau of Delta deoxy-[Hb+Mb] (26.6 +/- 11.8 vs. 13.7 +/- 5.6%; P < 0.01) and the point-by-point heterogeneity [root mean square error (RMSE)] during the primary component in the second bout. However, neither the change in the CV for tau nor RMSE of Delta deoxy-[Hb+Mb] correlated with the reduction in the SC in pVO(2) kinetics during subsequent heavy exercise. In conclusion, prior exercise reduced the spatial heterogeneity of the primary component of muscle deoxygenation kinetics. This effect was not correlated with alterations in the pVO(2) response during subsequent heavy exercise.

A nonlinear dynamic model for heart rate response to treadmill walking exercise

A dynamic model of the heart rate response to treadmill walking exercise is presented. The model is a feedback interconnected system; the subsystem in the forward path represents the neural response to exercise, while the subsystem in the feedback path describes the peripheral local response. The parameters of the model were estimated from 5 healthy adult male subjects, each undertaking 3 sets of walking exercise at different speeds. Simulated responses from the model closely match the experimental data both in the exercise and the recovery phases. The model will be useful in explaining the cardiovascular response to exercise and in the design of exercise protocols for individuals.

Electrostimulation improves muscle perfusion but does not affect either muscle deoxygenation or pulmonary oxygen consumption kinetics during a heavy constant-load exercise

Electromyostimulation (EMS) is commonly used as part of training programs. However, the exact effects at the muscle level are largely unknown and it has been recently hypothesized that the beneficial effect of EMS could be mediated by an improved muscle perfusion. In the present study, we investigated rates of changes in pulmonary oxygen consumption (VO(2p)) and muscle deoxygenation during a standardized exercise performed after an EMS warm-up session. We aimed at determining whether EMS could modify pulmonary O(2) uptake and muscle deoxygenation as a result of improved oxygen delivery. Nine subjects performed a 6-min heavy constant load cycling exercise bout preceded either by an EMS session (EMS) or under control conditions (CONT). VO(2p) and heart rate (HR) were measured while deoxy-(HHb), oxy-(HbO(2)) and total haemoglobin/myoglobin (Hb(tot)) relative contents were measured using near infrared spectroscopy. EMS significantly increased (P < 0.05) the Hb(tot) resting level illustrating a residual hyperaemia. The EMS priming exercise did not affect either the HHb time constant (17.7 +/- 14.2 s vs. 13.1 +/- 2.3 s under control conditions) or the VO(2p) kinetics (time-constant = 18.2 +/- 5.2 s vs. 15.4 +/- 4.6 s under control conditions). Likewise, the other VO(2p) parameters were unchanged. Our results further indicated that EMS warm-up improved muscle perfusion through a residual hyperaemia. However, neither VO(2p) nor [HHb] kinetics were modified accordingly. These results suggest that improved O(2) delivery by residual hyperaemia induced by EMS does not accelerate the rate of aerobic metabolism during heavy exercise at least in trained subjects.

Power athletes and distance training: physiological and biomechanical rationale for change

The development of power lies at the foundation of all movement, especially athletic performance. Unfortunately, training programmes of athletes often seek to improve cardiovascular endurance through activities such as distance training that are detrimental for the performance of power athletes, rather than using other means of exercise. Performance decrements from continuous aerobic training can be a result of inappropriate neuromuscular adaptations, a catabolic hormonal profile, an increased risk for overtraining and an ineffective motor learning environment. However, long, sustained exercise continues to be employed at all levels of competition to obtain benefits that could be achieved more effectively through other forms of conditioning. While some advantageous effects of endurance training may occur, there are unequivocal drawbacks to distance training in the power athlete. There are many other types of conditioning that are more relevant to all anaerobic sports and will also avoid the negative consequences associated with distance training.

Muscle blood-flow dynamics at exercise onset: do the limbs differ?

Common approaches to understanding control of muscle blood flow in exercise focus on the contributions of various putative vasoregulatory mechanisms to the magnitude of the steady-state response. The application of systems-control principles offers a unique approach to characterizing and quantifying the non-steady-state adaptation of muscle blood flow with exercise onset. Information gained from this approach provides novel insight into the nature of control mechanisms governing physiological responses to exercise. This review is intended to provide the reader with an understanding of 1) exercise models, methodology for measuring muscle blood flow, and analysis approaches for quantifying muscle blood-flow dynamics; 2) what is currently known about the dynamic response of muscle blood-flow control mechanisms in humans; and 3) the similarities and differences in exercising muscle blood-flow control in the upper versus the lower limbs in humans.

Onset exercise hyperaemia in humans: partitioning the contributors

Using a step-wise, reductionist approach we characterized the time course and degree to which mechanical, vasodilatory and cardiac mechanisms contribute to the increase in leg blood flow (LBF) at the onset of dynamic knee-extensor exercise. Heart rate (HR) and LBF (ultrasound Doppler) were evaluated during (1) voluntary and (2) passive exercise in the seated position, (3) passive exercise in the supine position with the leg above the heart, and (4) passive exercise with measurements made in the non-moving leg. In trials 2 and 3, the degree of change and time course of peak DeltaHR (8.7 +/- 2 bpm, seated; 10 +/- 1 bpm, supine) and peak DeltaLBF (518 +/- 135 ml min(-1), seated; 448 +/- 179 ml min(-1), supine) were similar, supporting the concept that the skeletal muscle pump was minimized. Even with the reduction of skeletal muscle pump and metabolic influences (trials 2, 3 and 4) a significant cardio-acceleration and hyperaemia was seen. In the first 5 s of seated passive exercise, the retrograde component of the blood velocity profile was significantly greater than rest or the 5-20 s interval, which may suggest an arterial inflow that initially exceeded leg vasodilatation. Steady-state LBF (minutes 2 and 3) remained elevated during voluntary exercise, but returned to near baseline during passive movement. Taken together, these data suggest that cardio-acceleration (i.e. tachycardia) and mechanical forces other than the skeletal muscle pump play a role in reducing vascular resistance and ultimately increasing LBF at the onset of exercise, followed by steady-state LBF which matches muscle metabolic demand.

Muscle capillary blood flow kinetics estimated from pulmonary O2 uptake and near-infrared spectroscopy

The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signal (deoxyhemoglobin concentration; [HHb]) reflects the dynamic balance between muscle capillary blood flow (Q(cap)) and muscle O(2) uptake (Vo(2)(m)) in the microcirculation. The purposes of the present study were to estimate the time course of Q(cap) from the kinetics of the primary component of pulmonary O(2) uptake (Vo(2)(p)) and [HHb] throughout exercise, and compare the Q(cap) kinetics with the Vo(2)(p) kinetics. Nine subjects performed moderate- (M; below lactate threshold) and heavy-intensity (H, above lactate threshold) constant-work-rate tests. Vo(2)(p) (l/min) was measured breath by breath, and [HHb] (muM) was measured by NIRS during the tests. The time course of Q(cap) was estimated from the rearrangement of the Fick equation [Q(cap) = Vo(2)(m)/(a-v)O(2), where (a-v)O(2) is arteriovenous O(2) difference] using Vo(2)(p) (primary component) and [HHb] as proxies of Vo(2)(m) and (a-v)O(2), respectively. The kinetics of [HHb] [time constant (tau) + time delay [HHb]; M = 17.8 +/- 2.3 s and H = 13.7 +/- 1.4 s] were significantly (P < 0.001) faster than the kinetics of Vo(2) [tau of primary component (tau(P)); M = 25.5 +/- 8.8 s and H = 25.6 +/- 7.2 s] and Q(cap) [mean response time (MRT); M = 25.4 +/- 9.1 s and H = 25.7 +/- 7.7 s]. However, there was no significant difference between MRT of Q(cap) and tau(P)-Vo(2) for both intensities (P = 0.99), and these parameters were significantly correlated (M and H; r = 0.99; P < 0.001). In conclusion, we have proposed a new method to noninvasively approximate Q(cap) kinetics in humans during exercise. The resulting overall Q(cap) kinetics appeared to be tightly coupled to the temporal profile of Vo(2)(m).

Dynamic response characteristics of local muscle blood flow regulatory mechanisms in human forearm exercise

We sought to understand the nature of control mechanisms involved in the adaptation of exercising muscle hyperemia. Seven subjects performed rhythmic dynamic forearm exercise under two exercise conditions: small step 1 [step increase from rest to 40% peak forearm vascular conductance (FVC), in ml.min(-1).100 mmHg-1] for 5 min followed by small step 2 (further increase to 80% peak FVC for 5 min), and large step (step increase from rest to 80% peak FVC for 5 min). FVC data were fit with a two- (small step 1) and three-component (small step 2, large step) exponential as appropriate. For the rapid phase I response, FVC dynamic response characteristics (time delay, time constant) were not affected by the magnitude of the work intensity increase when the transition began from rest, but were slower in the 40-80% transition. Rest-80% gain was greater than either rest-40% or 40-80% transitions but represented the same proportion of the phase I + phase II gain across all transitions (57 vs. 56 vs. 57%, respectively, P = 0.975). For the slower phase II response, dynamic response characteristics were not affected by the magnitude of the work intensity increase when initiated from rest. The time constant was not altered when the transition began from exercise vs. rest. We conclude that 1) dynamic response characteristics of exercise hyperemia control mechanisms are not affected by the magnitude of work rate increase when forearm exercise is initiated from rest, 2) phase I but not phase II dynamic response characteristics are sensitive to baseline exercise intensity, and 3) the mechanisms contributing to phase I result in the same relative response magnitude, regardless of the size of the step increase in exercise intensity or the baseline from which it is initiated.