The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of concentric (Con) and eccentric (Ecc) muscle actions on leg muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Two protocols were utilized. In protocol 1, eight subjects performed Con and Ecc arm curls for 2 min, with a resistance representing 50% of one-repetition maximum for Con curls. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were greater (P < 0.05) during Con than during Ecc curls. Similarly, the MSNA was greater (P < 0.05) during Con than during Ecc curls. In protocol 2, eight different subjects performed Con and Ecc arm curls to fatigue, followed by postexercise muscle ischemia, by using the same resistance as in protocol 1. Endurance time was significantly greater for Ecc than for Con curls. The increase in HR, MAP, and MSNA was greater (P < 0.05) during Con than during Ecc curls. However, when the data were normalized as a function of endurance time, the differences in HR, MAP, and MSNA between Con and Ecc curls were no longer present. HR, MAP, and MSNA responses during postexercise muscle ischemia were similar for Con and Ecc curls. Con curls elicited greater increase (P < 0.05) in blood lactate concentration than did Ecc curls. In summary, Con actions contribute significantly more to the increase in cardiovascular and MSNA responses during brief, submaximal exercise than do Ecc actions. However, when performed to a similar level of effort (i.e., fatigue), Con and Ecc muscle actions elicit similar cardiovascular and MSNA responses. These results indicate that the increase in MSNA during a typical bout of submaximal dynamic exercise is primarily mediated by the muscle metaboreflex, which is stimulated by metabolites produced predominantly during Con muscle action.

autonomic nervous system; central command; dynamic exercise; isotonic contractions; muscle chemoreflex; muscle metaboreflex; muscle mechanoreflex

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