Hyperoxia enhances metaboreflex sensitivity during static exercise in humans

The influence of oral contraceptives on the exercise pressor reflex in the upper and lower body

Previous research has demonstrated that oral contraceptive (OC) users have enhanced cardiorespiratory responses to arm metaboreflex activation (i.e., postexercise circulatory occlusion, PECO) and attenuated pressor responses to leg passive movement (PM) compared to non-OC users (NOC). We investigated the cardiorespiratory responses to arm or leg metaboreflex and mechanoreflex activation in 32 women (OC, n = 16; NOC, n = 16) performing four trials: 40% handgrip or 80% plantarflexion followed by PECO and arm or leg PM. OC and NOC increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) similarly during handgrip, plantarflexion and arm/leg PECO compared to baseline. Despite increased ventilation (VE) during exercise, none of the women exhibited higher VE during arm or leg PECO. OC and NOC similarly increased MAP and VE during arm or leg PM compared to baseline. Therefore, OC and NOC were similar across pressor and ventilatory responses to arm or leg metaboreflex and mechanoreflex activation. However, some differences due to OC may have been masked by disparities in muscle strength. Since women increase VE during exercise, we suggest that while women do not display a ventilatory response to metaboreflex activation (perhaps due to not reaching a theoretical metabolite threshold to stimulate VE), the mechanoreflex may drive VE during exercise in women.

The effect of hyperoxia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of hyperoxia on muscle sympathetic nerve activity in healthy individuals and those with cardio-metabolic diseases.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed until August 2022. All study designs (except reviews) were included: population (humans; apparently healthy or with at least one chronic disease); exposures (muscle sympathetic nerve activity during hyperoxia or hyperbaria); comparators (hyperoxia or hyperbaria vs. normoxia); and outcomes (muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, blood pressure, minute ventilation). Forty-nine studies were ultimately included in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

In healthy individuals, hyperoxia had no effect on sympathetic burst frequency (mean difference [MD] - 1.07 bursts/min; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 2.17, 0.04bursts/min; P = 0.06), burst incidence (MD 0.27 bursts/100 heartbeats [hb]; 95% CI - 2.10, 2.64 bursts/100 hb; P = 0.82), burst amplitude (P = 0.85), or total activity (P = 0.31). In those with chronic diseases, hyperoxia decreased burst frequency (MD - 5.57 bursts/min; 95% CI - 7.48, - 3.67 bursts/min; P < 0.001) and burst incidence (MD - 4.44 bursts/100 hb; 95% CI - 7.94, - 0.94 bursts/100 hb; P = 0.01), but had no effect on burst amplitude (P = 0.36) or total activity (P = 0.90). Our meta-regression analyses identified an inverse relationship between normoxic burst frequency and change in burst frequency with hyperoxia. In both groups, hyperoxia decreased heart rate but had no effect on any measure of blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

Hyperoxia does not change sympathetic activity in healthy humans. Conversely, in those with chronic diseases, hyperoxia decreases sympathetic activity. Regardless of disease status, resting sympathetic burst frequency predicts the degree of change in burst frequency, with larger decreases for those with higher resting activity.

Exercise performance and physiological responses: the potential role of redox imbalance

Increases in oxidative stress or decreases in antioxidant capacity, or redox imbalance, are known to alter physiological function and has been suggested to influence performance. To date, no study has sought to manipulate this balance in the same participants and observe the impact on physiological function and performance. Using a single‐blind, placebo‐controlled, and counterbalanced design, this study examined the effects of increasing free radicals, via hyperoxic exposure (F_iO₂ = 1.0), and/or increasing antioxidant capacity, through consuming an antioxidant cocktail (AOC; vitamin‐C, vitamin‐E, α‐lipoic acid), on 5‐kilometer (km) cycling time‐trial performance, and the physiological and fatigue responses in healthy college‐aged males. Hyperoxic exposure prior to the 5 km TT had no effect on performance, fatigue, or the physiological responses to exercise. The AOC significantly reduced average power output (222 ± 11 vs. 214 ± 12 W), increased 5 km time (516 ± 17 vs. 533 ± 18 sec), suppressed ventilation (V_E; 116 ± 5 vs. 109 ± 13 L/min), despite similar oxygen consumption (VO₂; 43.1 ± 0.8 vs. 44.9 ± 0.2 mL/kg per min), decreased V_E/VO₂ (35.9 ± 2.0 vs. 32.3 ± 1.5 L/min), reduced economy (VO₂/W; 0.20 ± 0.01 vs. 0.22 ± 0.01), increased blood lactate (10 ± 0.7 vs. 11 ± 0.7 mmol), and perception of fatigue (RPE; 7.39 ± 0.4 vs. 7.60 ± 0.3) at the end of the TT, as compared to placebo (main effect, placebo vs. AOC, respectively). Our data demonstrate that prior to exercise, ingesting an AOC, but not exposure to hyperoxia, likely disrupts the delicate balance between pro‐ and antioxidant forces, which negatively impacts ventilation, blood lactate, economy, perception of fatigue, and performance (power output and 5 km time) in young healthy males. Thus, caution is warranted in athletes taking excess exogenous antioxidants.

Mechanisms of Improved Exercise Performance under Hyperoxia

BACKGROUND

The impact of hyperoxia on exercise limitation is still incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated to which extent breathing hyperoxia enhances the exercise performance of healthy subjects and which physiologic mechanisms are involved.

METHODS

A total of 32 healthy volunteers (43 ± 15 years, 12 women) performed 4 bicycle exercise tests to exhaustion with ramp and constant-load protocols (at 75% of the maximal workload [Wmax] on FiO2 0.21) on separate occasions while breathing ambient (FiO2 0.21) or oxygen-enriched air (FiO2 0.50) in a random, blinded order. Workload, endurance, gas exchange, pulse oximetry (SpO2), and cerebral (CTO) and quadriceps muscle tissue oxygenation (QMTO) were measured.

RESULTS

During the final 15 s of ramp exercising with FiO2 0.50, Wmax (mean ± SD 270 ± 80 W), SpO2 (99 ± 1%), and CTO (67 ± 9%) were higher and the Borg CR10 Scale dyspnea score was lower (4.8 ± 2.2) than the corresponding values with FiO2 0.21 (Wmax 257 ± 76 W, SpO2 96 ± 3%, CTO 61 ± 9%, and Borg CR10 Scale dyspnea score 5.7 ± 2.6, p < 0.05, all comparisons). In constant-load exercising with FiO2 0.50, endurance was longer than with FiO2 0.21 (16 min 22 s ± 7 min 39 s vs. 10 min 47 s ± 5 min 58 s). With FiO2 0.50, SpO2 (99 ± 0%) and QMTO (69 ± 8%) were higher than the corresponding isotime values to end-exercise with FiO2 0.21 (SpO2 96 ± 4%, QMTO 66 ± 9%), while minute ventilation was lower in hyperoxia (82 ± 18 vs. 93 ± 23 L/min, p < 0.05, all comparisons).

CONCLUSION

In healthy subjects, hyperoxia increased maximal power output and endurance. It improved arterial, cerebral, and muscle tissue oxygenation, while minute ventilation and dyspnea perception were reduced. The findings suggest that hyperoxia enhanced cycling performance through a more efficient pulmonary gas exchange and a greater availability of oxygen to muscles and the brain (cerebral motor and sensory neurons).

Short-term cardiovascular and autonomic effects of inhaled salbutamol

Asthma independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As inhaled β-agonists have systemic cardiovascular effects, and elevations in arterial stiffness and sympathetic nerve activity are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity/mortality, this study examines the effect of salbutamol use on pulse wave velocity (PWV) and muscle sympathetic nervous activity (MSNA). Healthy men and women (26.2±1.5years) were recruited for: Day 1: 4 inhalations of placebo followed by 4 inhalations of salbutamol (4×100μg); Day 2: placebo only; Day 3: carotid-femoral PWV measurements before/after placebo/salbutamol. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and carotid-radial PWV were obtained on Day 1 and 2. MSNA was obtained on Day 1. Salbutamol increased HR and total MSNA (Baseline1: 2.8±2.8au; Placebo: 2.4±2.1au; Baseline2: 2.7±3.0au; Salbutamol: 3.3±2.9au; p=0.05), with no changes in MAP or PWV. There were no effects of placebo on HR, MSNA, or PWV. Acute salbutamol use increases sympathetic activity suggesting that salbutamol could contribute to cardiovascular morbidity/mortality in individuals using inhaled β-agonists.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on muscle fatigue after maximal intermittent plantar flexion exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on muscle fatigue after maximal intermittent plantar flexion exercise. Twenty healthy male volunteers (aged from 21 to 24 years) were randomly assigned to either HBO or normoxic group and were blinded to their treatment and group assignment. The HBO group breathed 100% oxygen under 2.5 atmosphere absolute (ATA) for 60 minutes, whereas the normoxic group breathed room air under 1.2 ATA for 70 minutes. The subjects performed a fatigue test, which consisted of 50 maximal unilateral isometric plantar flexions, before and after intervention. Surface electromyography was recorded from triceps surae muscle. Subjects performed maximal voluntary contractions of isometric plantar flexions, and voluntary activation and twitch contractile properties were evaluated with cutaneous tibial nerve stimuli before and after intervention. Compared with initial values during repetitions 4-10, the plantar flexion torque during repetitions 41-50 decreased to 88.5 and 83.2% after HBO and normoxic treatment, respectively. A smaller decrease in muscle force was observed in the HBO group compared with the normoxic group. No differences in function between treatment groups were observed after nerve stimulation. These results suggest that HBO contributes to sustained force production due to suppressing the muscle fatigue progression. In practice, HBO can contribute to the prevention of excess fatigue of agonist muscles for specific exercises involving repeated jumping.

Effect of vitamin C on hyperoxia-induced vasoconstriction in exercising skeletal muscle

Hyperoxia can cause substantial reductions in peripheral and coronary blood flow at rest and during exercise, which may be caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during hyperoxia. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ROS in hyperoxia-induced reductions in skeletal muscle blood flow during forearm exercise. We hypothesized that infusion of vitamin C would abolish the effects of hyperoxia on the forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to exercise. Twelve young healthy adults performed rhythmic forearm handgrip exercise (10% of maximum voluntary contraction for 5 min) during normoxia and hyperoxia. For each condition, two trials were conducted with intra-arterial administration of saline or vitamin C. FBF was measured using Doppler ultrasound. During hyperoxia with saline, FBF and forearm vascular conductance (FVC) were 86.3 ± 5.1 and 86.8 ± 5.2%, respectively, of the normoxic values (100%) (P < 0.05). During vitamin C, hyperoxic FBF and FVC responses were 90.9 ± 4.2 and 90.9 ± 4.1%, respectively, of the normoxic values (P = 0.57 and 0.59). Subjects were then divided into three subgroups based on their percent decrease in FBF (>20, 10-20, and <10%) during hyperoxia. In the subgroup that demonstrated the greatest hyperoxia-induced changes (>20%), FBF and FVC during hyperoxia were 67.1 ± 4.0 and 66.8 ± 3.6%, respectively, of the normoxic values. Vitamin C abolished these effects on FBF and FVC with values that were 102.0 ± 5.2 and 100.8 ± 6.1%, respectively. However, vitamin C had no effect in the other two subgroups. This analysis is consistent with the idea that ROS generation blunts the FBF responses to exercise in the subjects most affected by hyperoxia.

Neural regulation of cardiovascular response to exercise: role of central command and peripheral afferents

During dynamic exercise, mechanisms controlling the cardiovascular apparatus operate to provide adequate oxygen to fulfill metabolic demand of exercising muscles and to guarantee metabolic end-products washout. Moreover, arterial blood pressure is regulated to maintain adequate perfusion of the vital organs without excessive pressure variations. The autonomic nervous system adjustments are characterized by a parasympathetic withdrawal and a sympathetic activation. In this review, we briefly summarize neural reflexes operating during dynamic exercise. The main focus of the present review will be on the central command, the arterial baroreflex and chemoreflex, and the exercise pressure reflex. The regulation and integration of these reflexes operating during dynamic exercise and their possible role in the pathophysiology of some cardiovascular diseases are also discussed.

Activation of the carotid chemoreflex secondary to muscle metaboreflex stimulation in men

Recent work has shown that the carotid chemoreceptor (CC) contributes to sympathetic control of cardiovascular function during exercise, despite no evidence of increased circulating CC stimuli, suggesting enhanced CC activity/sensitivity. As interactions between metaboreceptors and chemoreceptors have been previously observed, the purpose of this study was to isolate the metaboreflex while acutely stimulating or inhibiting the CC to determine whether the metaboreflex increased CC activity/sensitivity. Fourteen young healthy men (height: 177.0 ± 2.1 cm, weight: 85.8 ± 5.5 kg, age: 24.6 ± 1.1 yr) performed three trials of 40% maximal voluntary contraction handgrip for 2 min, followed by 3 min of postexercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) to stimulate the metaboreflex. In random order, subjects either breathed room air, hypoxia (target SPo2 = 85%), or hyperoxia (FiO2 = 1.0) during the PECO to modulate the chemoreflex. After these trials, a resting hypoxia trial was conducted without handgrip or PECO. Ventilation (Ve), heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and muscle sympathetic nervous activity (MSNA) data were continuously obtained. Relative to normoxic PECO, inhibition of the CC during hyperoxic PECO resulted in lower MSNA (P = 0.038) and HR (P = 0.021). Relative to normoxic PECO, stimulation of the CC during hypoxic PECO resulted in higher HR (P < 0.001) and Ve (P < 0.001). The ventilatory and MSNA responses to hypoxic PECO were not greater than the sum of the responses to hypoxia and PECO individually, indicating that the CC are not sensitized during metaboreflex activation. These results demonstrate that stimulation of the metaboreflex activates, but does not sensitize the CC, and help explain the enhanced CC activity with exercise.

Effect of oxidative stress on sympathetic and renal vascular responses to ischemic exercise

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced acutely during skeletal muscle contraction, are known to stimulate group IV muscle afferents and accentuate the exercise pressor reflex (EPR) in rodents. The effect of ROS on the EPR in humans is unknown. We conducted a series of studies using ischemic fatiguing rhythmic handgrip to acutely increase ROS within skeletal muscle, ascorbic acid infusion to scavenge free radicals, and hyperoxia inhalation to further increase ROS production. We hypothesized that ascorbic acid would attenuate the EPR and that hyperoxia would accentuate the EPR. Ten young healthy subjects participated in two or three experimental trials on separate days. Beat-by-beat measurements of heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and renal vascular resistance index (RVRI) were measured and compared between treatments (saline and ascorbic acid; room air and hyperoxia). At fatigue, the reflex increases in MAP (31 ± 3 versus 29 ± 2 mmHg), HR (19 ± 3 versus 20 ± 3 bpm), MSNA burst rate (21 ± 4 versus 23 ± 4 burst/min), and RVRI (39 ± 12 versus 44 ± 13%) were not different between saline and ascorbic acid. Relative to room air, hyperoxia did not augment the reflex increases in MAP, HR, MSNA, or RVRI in response to exercise. Muscle metaboreflex activation and time/volume control experiments similarly showed no treatment effects. While contrary to our initial hypotheses, these findings suggest that ROS do not play a significant role in the normal reflex adjustments to ischemic exercise in young healthy humans.

Changes in stationary upright standing and proprioceptive reflex control of foot muscles after fatiguing static foot inversion

We searched for the consequences of a maximal static foot inversion sustained until exhaustion on the post-exercise stationary upright standing and the proprioceptive control of the foot muscles. Twelve healthy subjects executed an unilateral maximal static foot inversion during which continuous power spectrum analyses of surface electromyograms of the tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PL), and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles were performed. Superimposed pulse trains (twitch interpolation) were delivered to the TA muscle to identify "central" or "peripheral" fatigue. Before and after the fatiguing task, we measured (1) the repartition of the plantar and barycentre surfaces with a computerized stationary platform, (2) the peak contractile TA response to electrical stimulation (TA twitch), (3) the tonic vibratory response (TVR) of TA and GM muscles, and (4) the Hoffman reflex. During static exercise, "central" fatigue was diagnosed in 5/12 subjects whereas in the 7 others "peripheral" TA fatigue was deduced from the absence of response to twitch interpolation and the post-exercise decrease in twitch amplitude. The sustained foot inversion was associated with reduced median frequency in TA but not in PL and GM muscles. After static exercise, in all subjects both the mean plantar and rearfoot surfaces increased, indicating a foot eversion, the TVR amplitude decreased in TA but did not vary in GM, and the Hoffman reflex remained unchanged. Whatever was the mechanism of fatigue during the maximal foot inversion task, the facilitating myotatic reflex was constantly altered in foot invertor muscles. This could explain the prevailing action of the antagonistic evertor muscles.

Vasoconstrictor responsiveness during hyperbaric hyperoxia in contracting human muscle

Large increases in systemic oxygen content cause substantial reductions in exercising forearm blood flow (FBF) due to increased vascular resistance. We hypothesized that 1) functional sympatholysis (blunting of sympathetic α-adrenergic vasoconstriction) would be attenuated during hyperoxic exercise and 2) α-adrenergic blockade would limit vasoconstriction during hyperoxia and increase FBF to levels observed under normoxic conditions. Nine male subjects (age 28 ± 1 yr) performed forearm exercise (20% of maximum) under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. Studies were performed in a hyperbaric chamber at 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA; sea level) while breathing 21% O(2) and at 2.82 ATA while breathing 100% O(2) (estimated change in arterial O(2) content ∼6 ml O(2)/100 ml). FBF (ml/min) was measured using Doppler ultrasound. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated from FBF and blood pressure (arterial catheter). Vasoconstrictor responsiveness was determined using intra-arterial tyramine. FBF and FVC were substantially lower during hyperoxic exercise than normoxic exercise (∼20-25%; P < 0.01). At rest, vasoconstriction to tyramine (% decrease from pretyramine values) did not differ between normoxia and hyperoxia (P > 0.05). During exercise, vasoconstrictor responsiveness was slightly greater during hyperoxia than normoxia (-22 ± 3 vs. -17 ± 2%; P < 0.05). However, during α-adrenergic blockade, hyperoxic exercise FBF and FVC remained lower than during normoxia (P < 0.01). Therefore, our data suggest that although the vasoconstrictor responsiveness during hyperoxic exercise was slightly greater, it likely does not explain the majority of the large reductions in FBF and FVC (∼20-25%) during hyperbaric hyperoxic exercise.

Carotid chemoreceptor modulation of blood flow during exercise in healthy humans

Carotid chemoreceptor (CC) inhibition reduces sympathetic nervous outflow in exercising dogs and humans. We sought to determine if CC suppression increases muscle blood flow in humans during exercise and hypoxia. Healthy subjects (N = 13) were evaluated at rest and during constant-work leg extension exercise while exposed to either normoxia or hypoxia (inspired O(2) tension, F(IO(2)), ≈ 0.12, target arterial O(2) saturation = 85%). Subjects breathed hyperoxic gas (F(IO(2)) ≈ 1.0) and/or received intravenous dopamine to inhibit the CC while femoral arterial blood flow data were obtained continuously with pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Exercise increased heart rate, mean arterial pressure, femoral blood flow and conductance compared to rest. Transient hyperoxia had no significant effect on blood flow at rest, but increased femoral blood flow and conductance transiently during exercise without changing blood pressure. Similarly, dopamine had no effect on steady-state blood flow at rest, but increased femoral blood flow and conductance during exercise. The transient vasodilatory response observed by CC inhibition with hyperoxia during exercise could be blocked with simultaneous CC inhibition with dopamine. Despite evidence of dopamine reducing ventilation during hypoxia, no effect on femoral blood flow, conductance or mean arterial pressure was observed either at rest or during exercise with CC inhibition with dopamine while breathing hypoxia. These findings indicate that the carotid chemoreceptor contributes to skeletal muscle blood flow regulation during normoxic exercise in healthy humans, but that the influence of the CC on blood flow regulation in hypoxia is limited.

Local control of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise: influence of available oxygen

Reductions in oxygen availability (O(2)) by either reduced arterial O(2) content or reduced perfusion pressure can have profound influences on the circulation, including vasodilation in skeletal muscle vascular beds. The purpose of this review is to put into context the present evidence regarding mechanisms responsible for the local control of blood flow during acute systemic hypoxia and/or local hypoperfusion in contracting muscle. The combination of submaximal exercise and hypoxia produces a "compensatory" vasodilation and augmented blood flow in contracting muscles relative to the same level of exercise under normoxic conditions. A similar compensatory vasodilation is observed in response to local reductions in oxygen availability (i.e., hypoperfusion) during normoxic exercise. Available evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the compensatory dilator response under each of these conditions, whereas adenosine appears to only play a role during hypoperfusion. During systemic hypoxia the NO-mediated component of the compensatory vasodilation is regulated through a β-adrenergic receptor mechanism at low-intensity exercise, while an additional (not yet identified) source of NO is likely to be engaged as exercise intensity increases during hypoxia. Potential candidates for stimulating and/or interacting with NO at higher exercise intensities include prostaglandins and/or ATP. Conversely, prostaglandins do not appear to play a role in the compensatory vasodilation during exercise with hypoperfusion. Taken together, the data for both hypoxia and hypoperfusion suggest NO is important in the compensatory vasodilation seen when oxygen availability is limited. This is important from a basic biological perspective and also has pathophysiological implications for diseases associated with either hypoxia or hypoperfusion.

Effect of angiotensin AT1 receptor blockade on sympathetic responses to handgrip in healthy men

BACKGROUND

To determine whether angiotensin II (ANG II) contributes to the reflex skeletal muscle sympathoexcitation elicited by isometric and isotonic exercise, we tested the hypothesis that angiotensin AT(1) receptor blockade (ARB) would attenuate reflex sympathoneural responses to handgrip (HG) and to post-handgrip ischemia (PHGI).

METHODS

Seventeen healthy men were studied before and 1 week after random double-blind crossover allocation to oral losartan (100 mg daily) and placebo. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were recorded at rest, and during 2 min bouts of isotonic HG at 50% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and isometric HG at 30% MVC, performed randomly, each followed by 2 min of PHGI.

RESULTS

At rest, losartan doubled plasma renin (P = 0.01) and ANG II (P = 0.03) concentrations, and lowered BP (P < 0.01) yet had no effect on MSNA burst frequency or incidence. HR trended higher (P = 0.060). Losartan's hypotensive effect persisted throughout each exercise bout (P < 0.045). MSNA and HR responses to isotonic exercise and postexercise ischemia were not affected by losartan. Isometric exercise and postexercise ischemia increased MSNA on both sessions (all P < 0.01). Losartan augmented the HR response (P ≤ 0.03), and after losartan MSNA burst frequency (P < 0.01) and incidence (P < 0.04) were significantly higher at all time points, but the magnitude of the MSNA response to isometric exercise and postexercise ischemia was unchanged.

CONCLUSION

In healthy men, short-term ARB does not attenuate reflex sympathoneural responses to HG or PHGI.

Hyperbaric hyperoxia reduces exercising forearm blood flow in humans

Hypoxia during exercise augments blood flow in active muscles to maintain the delivery of O(2) at normoxic levels. However, the impact of hyperoxia on skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise is not completely understood. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the hyperemic response to forearm exercise during hyperbaric hyperoxia would be blunted compared with exercise during normoxia. Seven subjects (6 men/1 woman; 25 ± 1 yr) performed forearm exercise (20% of maximum) under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. Forearm blood flow (FBF; in ml/min) was measured using Doppler ultrasound. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC; in ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1)) was calculated from FBF and blood pressure (in mmHg; brachial arterial catheter). Studies were performed in a hyperbaric chamber with the subjects supine at 1 atmospheres absolute (ATA) (sea level) while breathing normoxic gas [21% O(2), 1 ATA; inspired Po(2) (Pi(O(2))) ≈ 150 mmHg] and at 2.82 ATA while breathing hyperbaric normoxic (7.4% O(2), 2.82 ATA, Pi(O(2)) ≈ 150 mmHg) and hyperoxic (100% O(2), 2.82 ATA, Pi(O(2)) ≈ 2,100 mmHg) gas. Resting FBF and FVC were less during hyperbaric hyperoxia compared with hyperbaric normoxia (P < 0.05). The change in FBF and FVC (Δ from rest) during exercise under normoxia (204 ± 29 ml/min and 229 ± 37 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1), respectively) and hyperbaric normoxia (203 ± 28 ml/min and 217 ± 35 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1), respectively) did not differ (P = 0.66-0.99). However, the ΔFBF (166 ± 21 ml/min) and ΔFVC (163 ± 23 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1)) during hyperbaric hyperoxia were substantially attenuated compared with other conditions (P < 0.01). Our data suggest that exercise hyperemia in skeletal muscle is highly dependent on oxygen availability during hyperoxia.

Combination of two oxidant stressors suppresses the oxidative stress and enhances the heat shock protein 27 response in healthy humans

We tested the hypothesis that the combination of 2 oxidant stressors (hyperoxia and fatiguing exercise) might reduce or suppress the oxidative stress. We concomitantly measured the plasma concentration of heat shock proteins (Hsp) that protect the cells against the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species. Healthy humans breathed pure oxygen under normobaric condition for 50-minute periods during which they stayed at rest or executed maximal static handgrip sustained until exhaustion. They also repeated handgrip bouts in normoxic condition. We performed venous blood measurements of 2 markers of the oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and reduced ascorbic acid) and Hsp27. Under normoxic condition, the handgrip elicited an oxidative stress and a modest increase in plasma Hsp27 level (+7.1 +/- 5.4 ng/mL). Under hyperoxic condition, (1) at rest, compared with the same time schedule in normoxic condition, we measured an oxidative stress (increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and decreased reduced ascorbic acid levels) and the plasma Hsp27 level increased (maximal variation, +12.5 +/- 6.0 ng/mL); and (2) after the handgrip, the oxidative stress rapidly disappeared. The combination of both hyperoxia and handgrip bout doubled the Hsp27 response (maximal variation, +24.8 +/- 9.2 ng/mL). Thus, the combination of 2 hits eliciting an oxidative stress seems to induce an adaptive Hsp27 response that might counterbalance an excessive production of reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species activate the group IV muscle afferents in resting and exercising muscle in rats

We tested the hypothesis that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced at rest and mostly during muscle contraction may stimulate the group IV muscle afferents. In rats, afferent activity was recorded in the peroneal nerve innervating the tibialis anterior muscle. Group IV afferents were identified from measurements of their conduction velocity and response to lactic acid. Comparing the group IV response to an intramuscular injection of buffered isotonic NaCl solution, we searched for the effects of a ROS donor (H2O2) or a ROS inhibitor (superoxide dismutase, SOD) on the baseline afferent activity in resting muscles. We also explored the consequences of a pre-treatment with SOD on the afferent nerve response to H2O2 injection or electrical muscle stimulation (MS). In other animals, we measured the changes in intramuscular level of a marker of oxidative stress (isoprostanes) after each test agent. H2O2 injection markedly activated all recorded group IV afferents. SOD injection lowered the baseline activity of 50 out of 70 afferent units, suppressed the afferent response to H2O2 injection, and delayed and reduced the MS-induced activation of all recorded units. Intramuscular isoprostanes level significantly increased after H2O2 injection or MS, the oxidative stress being absent in muscles pre-treated with SOD. We concluded that ROS influence both the spontaneous and contraction-induced activities of the group IV muscle afferents and are a potent stimulus of muscle metaboreceptors.

Using 100% Oxygen does not Alter the Cardiovascular Autonomic Regulation during Non-invasively Simulated Haemorrhage in Healthy Volunteers

We tested the effect of 100% oxygen on heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (ABP), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), total peripheral resistance (TPR), HR variability (HRV), systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in 20 healthy volunteers during simulated haemorrhage induced by −40 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP). HRV in the high frequency region (HRVHF), BRS, ABP and TPR were significantly increased, SBPV in the low frequency region (SBPVLF), CO and SV were unchanged, and HR was significantly decreased by 100% oxygen administration during normovolaemia. HRVHF, BRS, CO and SV were significantly decreased, SBPVLF and ABP were unchanged, and HR and TPR were significantly increased by LBNP during 21% or 100% oxygen administration. There were no significant differences in cardiovascular autonomic and haemodynamic responses to LBNP during 21% or 100% oxygen administration, suggesting that 100% oxygen does not alter normal cardiovascular autonomic responses during simulated haemorrhage.

Carotid chemoreceptor modulation of sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow during exercise in healthy humans

Recently, we have shown that specific, transient carotid chemoreceptor (CC) inhibition in exercising dogs causes vasodilatation in limb muscle. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if CC suppression reduces muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in exercising humans. Healthy subjects (N = 7) breathed hyperoxic gas (F(IO(2)) approximately 1.0) for 60 s at rest and during rhythmic handgrip exercise (50% maximal voluntary contraction, 20 r.p.m.). Microneurography was used to record MSNA in the peroneal nerve. End-tidal P(CO(2)) was maintained at resting eupnoeic levels throughout and breathing rate was voluntarily fixed. Exercise increased heart rate (67 versus 77 beats min(-1)), mean blood pressure (81 versus 97 mmHg), MSNA burst frequency (28 versus 37 bursts min(-1)) and MSNA total minute activity (5.7 versus 9.3 units), but did not change blood lactate (0.7 versus 0.7 mm). Transient hyperoxia had no significant effect on MSNA at rest. In contrast, during exercise both MSNA burst frequency and total minute activity were significantly reduced with hyperoxia. MSNA burst frequency was reduced within 9-23 s of end-tidal P(O(2)) exceeding 250 mmHg. The average nadir in MSNA burst frequency and total minute activity was -28 +/- 2% and -39 +/- 7%, respectively, below steady state normoxic values. Blood pressure was unchanged with hyperoxia at rest or during exercise. CC stimulation with transient hypoxia increased MSNA with a similar time delay to that obtained with CC inhibition via hyperoxia. Consistent with previous animal work, these data indicate that the CC contributes to exercise-induced increases in sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow.

Increased metaboreflex activity is related to exercise intolerance in heart transplant patients

Heart transplantation does not normalize exercise capacity or the ventilatory response to exercise. We hypothesized that excessive muscle reflex activity, as assessed by the muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) response to handgrip exercise, persists after cardiac transplantation and that this mechanism is related to exercise hyperpnea in heart transplant recipients (HTRs). We determined the MSNA, ventilatory, and cardiovascular responses to isometric and dynamic handgrips in 11 HTRs and 10 matched control subjects. Handgrips were followed by a post-handgrip ischemia to isolate the metaboreflex contribution to exercise responses. HTRs and control subjects also underwent recordings during isocapnic hypoxia and a maximal, symptom-limited, cycle ergometer exercise test. HTRs had higher resting MSNA ( P < 0.01) and heart rate ( P < 0.01) than the control subjects. Isometric handgrip increased MSNA in HTRs more than in the controls ( P = 0.003). Dynamic handgrip increased MSNA only in HTRs. During post-handgrip ischemia, MSNA and ventilation remained more elevated in HTRs ( P < 0.05). The MSNA and ventilatory responses to hypoxia were also higher in HTRs (both P < 0.04). In HTRs, metaboreflex overactivity was related to the ventilatory response to exercise, characterized by the regression slope relating ventilation to CO2 output ( r = +0.8; P < 0.05) and a lower peak ventilation ( r = +0.81; P < 0.05) during cycle ergometer exercise tests. However, increased chemoreflex sensitivity ( r = +0.91; P < 0.005), but not metaboreflex activity, accounted for the lower peak ventilation during exercise in a stepwise regression analysis. In conclusion, heart transplantation does not normalize muscle metaboreceptor activity; both increased metaboreflex and chemoreflex control are related to exercise intolerance in HTRs.

Influence of hyperoxia on skin vasomotor control in normothermic and heat-stressed humans

Hyperoxia induces skin vasoconstriction in humans, but the mechanism is still unclear. In the present study we examined whether the vasoconstrictor response to hyperoxia is through activated adrenergic function (protocol 1) or through inhibitory effects on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and/or cyclooxygenase (COX) (protocol 2). We also tested whether any such vasoconstrictor effect is altered by body heating. In protocol 1 (n = 11 male subjects), release of norepinephrine from adrenergic terminals in the forearm skin was blocked locally by iontophoresis of bretylium (BT). In protocol 2, the NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and the nonselective COX antagonist ketorolac (Keto) were separately administered by intradermal microdialysis in 11 male subjects. In the two protocols, subjects breathed 21% (room air) or 100% O(2) in both normothermia and hyperthermia. Skin blood flow (SkBF) was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as the ratio of SkBF to blood pressure measured by Finapres. In protocol 1, breathing 100% O(2) decreased (P < 0.05) CVC at the BT-treated and at untreated sites from the levels of CVC during 21% O(2) breathing both in normothermia and hyperthermia. In protocol 2, the administration of l-NAME inhibited (P < 0.05) the reduction of CVC during 100% O(2) breathing in both thermal conditions. The administration of Keto inhibited (P < 0.05) the reduction of CVC during 100% O(2) breathing in hyperthermia but not in normothermia. These results suggest that skin vasoconstriction with hyperoxia is partly due to the decreased activity of functional NOS in normothermia and hyperthermia. We found no significant role for adrenergic mechanisms in hyperoxic vasoconstriction. Decreased production of vasodilator prostaglandins may play a role in hyperoxia-induced cutaneous vasoconstriction in heat-stressed humans.

Differential effects of metaboreceptor and chemoreceptor activation on sympathetic and cardiac baroreflex control following exercise in hypoxia in human

Muscle metaboreceptors and peripheral chemoreceptors exert differential effects on the cardiorespiratory and autonomic responses following hypoxic exercise. Whether these effects are accompanied by specific changes in sympathetic and cardiac baroreflex control is not known. Sympathetic and cardiac baroreflex functions were assessed by intravenous nitroprusside and phenylephrine boluses in 15 young male subjects. Recordings were performed in random order, under locally circulatory arrested conditions, during: (1) rest and normoxia (no metaboreflex and no chemoreflex activation); (2) normoxic post-handgrip exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (metaboreflex activation without chemoreflex activation); (3) hypoxia without handgrip (10% O2 in N2, chemoreflex activation without metaboreflex activation); and (4) post-handgrip exercise in hypoxia (chemoreflex and metaboreflex activation). When compared with normoxic rest (-42 +/- 7% muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) mmHg(-1)), sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity did not change during normoxic post-exercise ischaemia (PEI; -53 +/- 9% MSNA mmHg(-1), P = 0.5) and increased during resting hypoxia (-68 +/- 5% MSNA mmHg(-1), P < 0.01). Sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity decreased during PEI in hypoxia (-35 +/- 6% MSNA mmHg(-1), P < 0.001 versus hypoxia without exercise; P = 0.16 versus normoxic PEI). Conversely, when compared with normoxic rest (11.1 +/- 1.7 ms mmHg(-1)), cardiac baroreflex sensitivity did not change during normoxic PEI (8.3 +/- 1.3 ms mmHg(-1), P = 0.09), but decreased during resting hypoxia (7.3 +/- 0.8 ms mmHg(-1), P < 0.05). Cardiac baroreflex sensitivity was lowest during PEI in hypoxia (4.3 +/- 1 ms mmHg(-1), P < 0.01 versus hypoxia without exercise; P < 0.001 versus normoxic exercise). The metaboreceptors and chemoreceptors exert differential effects on sympathetic and cardiac baroreflex function. Metaboreceptor activation is the major determinant of sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity, when these receptors are stimulated in the presence of hypoxia.