Journal of Applied Physiology Ad Instruments
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Appl Physiol 85: 609-618, 1998;
8750-7587/98 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Harms, C. A.
Right arrow Articles by Dempsey, J. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Harms, C. A.
Right arrow Articles by Dempsey, J. A.
Vol. 85, Issue 2, 609-618, August 1998

Effects of respiratory muscle work on cardiac output and its distribution during maximal exercise

Craig A. Harms, Thomas J. Wetter, Steven R. McClaran, David F. Pegelow, Glenn A. Nickele, William B. Nelson, Peter Hanson, and Jerome A. Dempsey

Department of Preventive Medicine, John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705

    ABSTRACT
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

We have recently demonstrated that changes in the work of breathing during maximal exercise affect leg blood flow and leg vascular conductance (C. A. Harms, M. A. Babcock, S. R. McClaran, D. F. Pegelow, G. A. Nickele, W. B. Nelson, and J. A. Dempsey. J. Appl. Physiol. 82: 1573-1583, 1997). Our present study examined the effects of changes in the work of breathing on cardiac output (CO) during maximal exercise. Eight male cyclists [maximal O2 consumption (VO2 max): 62 ± 5 ml · kg-1 · min-1] performed repeated 2.5-min bouts of cycle exercise at VO2 max. Inspiratory muscle work was either 1) at control levels [inspiratory esophageal pressure (Pes): -27.8 ± 0.6 cmH2O], 2) reduced via a proportional-assist ventilator (Pes: -16.3 ± 0.5 cmH2O), or 3) increased via resistive loads (Pes: -35.6 ± 0.8 cmH2O). O2 contents measured in arterial and mixed venous blood were used to calculate CO via the direct Fick method. Stroke volume, CO, and pulmonary O2 consumption (VO2) were not different (P > 0.05) between control and loaded trials at VO2 max but were lower (-8, -9, and -7%, respectively) than control with inspiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max. The arterial-mixed venous O2 difference was unchanged with unloading or loading. We combined these findings with our recent study to show that the respiratory muscle work normally expended during maximal exercise has two significant effects on the cardiovascular system: 1) up to 14-16% of the CO is directed to the respiratory muscles; and 2) local reflex vasoconstriction significantly compromises blood flow to leg locomotor muscles.

blood flow distribution; intrathoracic pressure

    INTRODUCTION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES of evidence that point to a significant role for the work of breathing (Wb) on the cardiovascular response to strenuous exercise. First, the Wb achieved at maximal O2 consumption (VO2 max) in fit subjects was shown to require an O2 consumption (VO2) that equaled 10-15% of the VO2 max, or 300-600 ml/min absolute VO2 (1). Presumably, this metabolic demand by the respiratory musculature would also require a significant share of the total cardiac output (CO). This presumption was confirmed by the high blood flows to respiratory muscles found during maximal exercise in animals (10, 11) but has not been tested directly in humans. Furthermore, 10- to 15-fold changes in intrathoracic pressure occur from rest to maximal exercise during inspiration and expiration; theoretically, these swings might be expected to influence the stroke output of the right and left heart (17, 19, 23, 24). Whether these changes in pressure actually cause a net change in stroke volume during exercise has also not been tested directly.

Second, we recently found that vascular resistance in leg locomotor muscles during maximal exercise responded reflexly to imposed changes in the Wb, so that leg blood flow (Qlegs) increased with respiratory muscle unloading and decreased with respiratory muscle loading (8). We do not know how much, if any, of this change in local blood flow was attributable to coincident changes in CO; similarly, we do not know whether these changes in Qlegs induced by a changing Wb altered the proportion of total CO distributed to working locomotor muscles.

Our present study was aimed at determining the effects of changes in the Wb on CO during maximal exercise. We employed a proportional-assist ventilator (PAV) to unload, and fixed inspiratory resistances to load, the respiratory muscles during several bouts of maximal exercise in fit healthy subjects and used the direct Fick technique to measure any resultant changes in CO. We then combined these findings with our previous data on Qlegs under similar conditions (8) to quantify the partitioning of the CO normally achieved at VO2 max to leg locomotor muscle and to respiratory muscles.

    METHODS
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Subjects. Eight male cyclists with resting pulmonary function within normal limits were recruited to participate in this study. Informed consent was obtained in writing from each subject, and all procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The physical characteristics of the subjects were as follows: age, 29.5 ± 4.6 (SD) yr; height, 184.5 ± 3.1 cm; and weight, 71.1 ± 6.1 kg.

Pressure and gas measurements. During all tests, the raw data were recorded for subsequent analysis on an eight-channel Hewlett-Packard tape recorder, Gould chart recorder, and computer. Flow rates, flow-volume and esophageal pressure (Pes)-volume relationships, end-expiratory lung volume, and total body VO2 and CO2 production were measured by using equipment and techniques previously reported (1, 9). The Wb was defined as the integrated area of the pressure-tidal volume loop (16). Wb multiplied by the breathing frequency represents the amount of work done per minute on the lungs. We note that our use of the area of the Pes-volume loop underestimates the actual Wb by variable amounts (1, 7); thus our measurements report only a conservative estimate of the total amount of work done by the respiratory muscles during exercise and their changes with unloading and loading.

Inspiratory unloading and loading. A feedback-controlled PAV was used to reduce the work of the inspiratory muscles during exercise (29). Briefly, subjects breathed through a Hans Rudolph valve that was connected (on the inspiratory side) to the PAV. The PAV contains a linear motor that drives a piston (5-liter volume capacity) which develops pressure in proportion to inspiratory airflow and volume. The level of assist is controlled by potentiometers on the control panel of the ventilator, and there are separate controls for volume assist and flow assist. During inspiration, the PAV makes mouth pressure positive in proportion to flow such that the proportional assist (unloading) of the respiratory muscles occurs throughout the inspiratory cycle. In practice, the amount of assist is set at the maximal level that each subject can tolerate, as determined from practice sessions before testing. During practice and testing sessions, subjects were verbally coached to relax and permit the PAV to assist each inspiration as much as possible.

To increase inspiratory work during exercise, we added ventilatory loads that consisted of mesh screens in the inspiratory line with resistances of 3-7 cmH2O · l-1 · s. These resistances were sufficient at the high flow rates achieved in maximal exercise to increase the Wb by 20-80% above control levels. Subjects participated in practice sessions to familiarize themselves with the inspiratory loads.

CO and blood-gas measurements. A Swann-Ganz catheter was inserted under sterile conditions in the left brachial vein and advanced caudally to the pulmonary artery for sampling of mixed venous blood. The position of the catheter tip was verified via fluoroscopy. A 20-gauge arterial catheter (Arrow) was inserted percutaneously in the right brachial artery under local 1% lidocaine anesthesia. CO was calculated via the direct Fick method: CO = VO2/arterial-mixed venous O2 difference (a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2). The a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 was divided by arterial O2 content to give O2 extraction. Vascular resistance was calculated as the ratio of mean arterial blood pressure to CO.

Duplicate 3- to 10-ml samples of arterial and mixed venous blood were drawn anaerobically over 10-20 s during each test for measurement of PO2, PCO2, and pH with a blood-gas analyzer calibrated with tonometered blood (Radiometer ABL300), and for measurement of O2 saturation and hemoglobin with a CO-oximeter (Radiometer OSM 3). Blood gases were corrected for temperature changes during exercise as measured from a thermocouple placed intranasally in the lower one-third of the esophagus lumen (Mon-a-Therm 6500) for arterial blood temperature and from a thermocouple located in the Swann-Ganz catheter for mixed venous blood temperature. Brachial artery and pulmonary arterial blood pressures (Ppa) were measured with Ohmeda pressure transducers (model P10EZ) attached to the arterial and mixed venous line. Blood lactate concentration was analyzed by means of a lactate analyzer (model 1500 Sport; Yellow Springs Instruments). Hematocrit was determined by microcentrifuge.

Experimental protocols. Subjects initially completed a progressive incremental VO2 max exercise test on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer (Elema) beginning at 150 W (~30-40% VO2 max) followed by an increase in work rate of 50 W every 2.5 min until exhaustion. Subjects selected their preferred pedaling frequency during the test, and this cadence was maintained constant throughout all subsequent testing through visual inspection of a digital cadence output. After a 20-min recovery, subjects cycled to exhaustion at 5-10% above their peak workload (WL) (as determined by the previous progressive test) to verify VO2 max. A plateau (<150 ml) or decrease in VO2 was observed for each subject between the final two WL of the incremental VO2 max test and/or between the final WL of the incremental test and the WL of the repeat test. The mean VO2 max was 62 ± 5 ml · kg-1 · min-1 (range 55-74 ml · kg-1 · min-1).

On a separate day, and after placement of the catheters, subjects completed several exercise trials (separated by 15-20 min). Three trials were performed at a WL that was at the subjects' VO2 max WL (383 ± 33 W) and that could be maintained for 2.5-3.0 min (as determined from a separate practice session). These tests consisted of one trial with no ventilatory intervention (control), one trial of inspiratory muscle unloading, and one trial of inspiratory muscle loading. The first maximal trial of each day was a control trial, and the order of the remaining two trials was randomized. Control submaximal exercise bouts set at 50 and 75% of VO2 max WL were also performed to establish a relationship between CO and VO2. During all exercise bouts, subjects first increased work rate progressively to the required WL over 30 s, and then three simultaneous collections of VO2 and blood sampling were taken at 45 s to 1 min, 1 min 30 s to 1 min 45 s, and 2 min 15 s to 2 min 30 s.

Statistical analysis. Relationships between Wb and the dependent variables under the three conditions, control, inspiratory muscle load, and inspiratory muscle unload at VO2 max WL, were determined from simple regression. ANOVA was used to determine treatment differences between group mean values under each of the three conditions. Tukey's post hoc analysis was used to determine where the differences between pairs of mean values were present. Significance was set at P <=  0.05.

    RESULTS
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

We present our findings concerning the effects of changing the Wb on several variables of O2 transport by showing 1) absolute values for each subject and 2) values as a percentage of control across all subjects. The group mean changes for each variable measured during inspiratory unloading, control, and inspiratory loading obtained during the final 2.5-min measurement period at VO2 max are summarized in Tables 1 and 2.

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1.   Effect of increasing and decreasing the Wb at VO2 max workload on ventilation and blood gases

                              
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2.   Effect of increasing and decreasing the Wb at VO2 max workload on O2 transport, O2 uptake, and vascular resistance

Wb. Table 1 shows the average change in Wb, peak inspiratory and expiratory Pes, and ventilatory output achieved with inspiratory unloading and loading. Inspiratory muscle unloading during maximal exercise reduced Wb by variable amounts to average 54.9 ± 6.2% of control, whereas with resistive loads Wb was increased to 156.7 ± 8.6% of control. Peak inspiratory Pes was increased 41 ± 3% with inspiratory unload (less negative) and was reduced 22 ± 4% with inspiratory loading (more negative). Peak expiratory Pes was reduced by 24 ± 3% with inspiratory unload (less positive) but was not different from control with inspiratory loading. The difference between peak inspiratory and peak expiratory Pes was 50 cmH2O during control, 34 cmH2O during unloaded trials, and 59 cmH2O during loaded trials. Tidal volume, breathing frequency, minute ventilation (VE), arterial and mixed venous PCO2, pH, PO2, O2 saturation, lactate, and hemoglobin did not change systematically (P > 0.05) across the range of Wb values within each subject (see Table 1). The ratio of inspiratory time to total time was 0.48 ± 0.09 during unloading, 0.49 ± 0.12 during control, and 0.56 ± 0.13 during loading.

Effects of changing Wb on O2 transport. Figure 1A shows individual absolute values for VO2, CO, and a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 vs. Wb obtained during the final 2.5-min measurement period at VO2 max. Without exception, VO2 and CO fell with inspiratory unloading but did not change systematically with loading. The fall in VO2 and CO with unloading averaged 0.29 ± 0.07 l/min (P < 0.04) and 2.4 ± 0.4 l/min (P < 0.03), respectively (see also Table 2). a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 averaged 16.7 ± 0.3 ml/dl and did not vary across the range of Wb values.


View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 


View larger version (18K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 1.   Absolute values are shown for cardiac output, O2 consumption (VO2), and arterial-mixed venous O2 difference (a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2) (A) and stroke volume and heart rate (B) for individual subjects across range of work of breathing (Wb) values at maximal VO2 (VO2 max). Each symbol represents a different subject (n = 8).

Figure 1B shows individual values for stroke volume and heart rate with inspiratory muscle unloading, control, and loading. The fall in CO with unloading was due to a fall in stroke volume, which occurred in all subjects, although differences in mean values did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.182) (Table 2). Heart rate did not change systematically with unloading or loading (Table 2). There was no significant difference in arterial or mixed venous O2 content. Pulmonary vascular resistance increased 19 ± 1% with unloading (P < 0.05) and fell 13 ± 1%, although not significantly (P = 0.25), with loading. Consequently, there was a tendency for Ppa to be higher during unloading (3.0 ± 1.1 mmHg), despite the lower CO, and lower during loading (4.0 ± 1.3 mmHg) compared with control values. These changes in Ppa occurred in six of eight subjects, although these differences did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.40).

Figure 2 shows CO and VO2 for all subjects combined, expressed as a percentage of control and described by a best fit curvilinear regression. Note that, with unloading, CO averaged 91.9 ± 0.6% of control and VO2 averaged 93.5 ± 0.5% of control (see Table 2).


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 2.   Effects of changing Wb on cardiac output (CO) and VO2 for all subjects by using all trials at VO2 max. * P < 0.05 for correlations of Wb vs. VO2 and Wb vs. CO.

Figure 3 shows the time course of changes in CO, VO2, and a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 during maximal exercise at each of the three measurement periods throughout the 2.5-min trials. The increase in CO was almost complete by the first minute of maximal exercise and rose only an additional 2.5% over the final 1 min 45 s of exercise. VO2 increased steeply at the first and second time period and then tended to plateau over the final 45 s. Almost all increases in VO2 beyond the first minute of exercise were due to a widening of a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2. The finding that CO and VO2 were lower with inspiratory muscle unloading and that they remained unchanged with loading was consistent and significant at all three time points of maximal exercise.


View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 3.   Time course of change in CO, VO2, and a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 for all individual subjects during measurements taken at 1 min, 1 min 45 s, and 2 min 30 s of maximal exercise. * Reductions in CO and VO2 with respiratory muscle unloading were significant at each of three times of measurement (P < 0.05).

Association of changes in VO2 and pleural pressure with changes in CO during maximal exercise. Was the reduction in CO with respiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max associated with the concomitant increases in intrathoracic pressure or with reductions in VO2? To address this question, we first determined the relationship between CO and VO2 in our subjects exercising under control conditions at 50, 75, 90, and 100% of VO2 max (see Fig. 4). The resulting regression equation (Fig. 4, top) agrees closely with published linear correlations in normal subjects (21). We superimposed data obtained during respiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max on this regression line, as shown in Fig. 4, bottom, for each of the eight subjects and for the mean values. Note that the reduction in CO with respiratory muscle unloading was slightly but consistently in excess of that predicted by the relationship of VO2 to CO (VO2-CO) obtained under control conditions. Thus, on the basis of the average regression equation, the 0.29 l/min reduction in VO2 with unloading at VO2 max would be associated with a 1.1 l/min reduction in CO. This predicted reduction in CO amounted to 46% of the total reduction in CO actually observed with respiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max.


View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 4.   Relationship between CO and VO2. Top: means ± SE of control values (large solid circles) and individual points (small solid circles) at 50, 75, 90, and 100%. Bottom: individual values for control and unload at VO2 max for CO vs. VO2. * Significant difference, P < 0.05.

Next, to examine the effects of factors independent of VO2 that might have caused the reduction in CO with unloading, we compared two WLs of 1) near-equal VO2 (maximal work rate with unloading vs. 93% of VO2 max control), but 2) with average intrathoracic pressures, which were different by 9 ± 1 and 7 ± 1 cmH2O at peak inspiration and expiration, respectively (see Fig. 5A). Note in Fig. 5A that stroke volume was higher in all subjects by 7 ± 1 ml (P < 0.05) when intrathoracic pressure was less negative (by 9 ± 1 cmH2O), i.e., at 93% of VO2 max (P < 0.001), even though VO2 was the same. Because heart rate fell an average of 5 ± 1 beats/min (P < 0.05) at the lower work rate, CO was not affected by the increased stroke volume. Note also that this increase in stroke volume between these two WLs was slightly less than one-half of the reduction in stroke volume achieved when respiratory muscles were unloaded at VO2 max.


View larger version (29K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 5.   Comparison of stroke volume, peak inspiratory (Inspir) and expiratory (Expir) esophageal pressures (Pes), VO2, CO, and heart rate (HR) during 100% VO2 max control, 100% VO2 max unload, and 93% VO2 max control (A); and 100% VO2 max control and 100% VO2 max load (B). Each small symbol represents different subject (n = 8). Large filled circle, means ± SE. * Significantly different from 100% VO2 max control, P < 0.05. + Significantly different from 100% VO2 max unload, P < 0.05.

Figure 5B shows the association of a changing negativity of Pes with respiratory muscle loading at VO2 max. Despite an almost 8 cmH2O more negative peak inspiratory Pes with loading at VO2 max, stroke volume and CO remained unchanged.

    DISCUSSION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

Summary of findings. Our findings demonstrate a significant effect of respiratory muscle unloading on stroke volume and CO during maximal exercise in the healthy, trained human. We found that reducing the Wb via proportional-assist ventilation during maximal exercise caused significant decreases in VO2 and in CO, due primarily to reduced stroke volume, whereas increasing the Wb during maximal exercise had no effect on CO or VO2. Correlational analysis implied that the effect of respiratory muscle unloading on CO was attributable to reductions in metabolic demand (i.e., VO2) by the respiratory muscles and/or to the effects of an increased (i.e., less negative) intrathoracic pressure on venous return. These findings, in combination with those we recently reported (8), demonstrate that the respiratory muscle work experienced under normal physiological conditions at maximal exercise exerts two types of effects on the cardiovascular response: 1) a substantial portion of the CO (up to 14-16%) is directed to the respiratory muscles to support their metabolic requirements; and 2) blood flow is reduced to (or "stolen from") working locomotor muscles because of sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction induced reflexly and possibly originating in contracting respiratory musculature.

Speculation as to the cause of the unloading effect on CO. Why did CO decrease with respiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max? First, and most straightforward, the decreased respiratory muscle work and VO2 mean less demand for blood flow, and the reduced CO may merely have followed the well-established relationship of CO to whole body VO2 as determined over a wide range of increasing exercise intensities and with a variety of exercise modalities that involved predominantly the arms or leg cycling (see Fig. 4; Ref. 21). We used this regression equation obtained under control conditions to estimate that, when respiratory muscles were unloaded at VO2 max, about one-half of the reduction in CO was associated with (and predictable from) the reduction in VO2. This apparent dependency of reductions in blood flow on reductions in VO2 is consistent with the findings of Coast et al. (5) and Anholm et al. (3), who increased the Wb by using resistive loading or hyperpnea in subjects at rest and reported significant increases in heart rate, CO, and VO2. Because these increases in CO developed slowly (i.e., they required >20 s of hyperpnea), they were attributed to the associated changes in VO2. Therefore, we think it reasonable to suggest that at least a significant portion of the reduction in CO with respiratory muscle unloading during maximal exercise was attributable to a corresponding reduction in VO2.

However, it is important to note that the VO2-CO relationship established across increasing work rates is dependent primarily on changes in heart rate (see Fig. 5; Ref. 20). This dependency of changes in CO on heart rate contrasts with the reduction in CO with respiratory muscle unloading that we observed during maximal exercise, which was primarily dependent on the reduction in stroke volume (see Fig. 1B). Furthermore, we also compared stroke volumes between conditions of equal VO2, i.e., the unloaded condition at maximal exercise vs. the control condition at an average of 93% of VO2 max (see Fig. 5), and observed that stroke volume was reduced during the unloaded condition. Therefore, these significant effects on stroke volume from respiratory muscle unloading (even at comparable VO2) implied that some factor associated with the unloading, other than the reduced VO2, may also be important in determining CO. Perhaps increases in (i.e., less negative) intrathoracic pressures may have caused the reduced stroke volume.

Changes in intrathoracic pressure imposed primarily at rest in supine humans (18) and anesthetized animals (24) have been shown to exert effects on both the left and right heart. With increasing negativity of intrathoracic pressure on inspiration, venous return increases, at least up to the point at which excessive negative pressure causes collapse of the veins entering the thorax, especially under conditions in which inspiration is prolonged. On the other hand, increasing negativity of intrathoracic pressure also means increased transmural pressure across the left ventricle, and, because of limited space within the pericardium, increased right atrial and ventricular filling will compromise left ventricular expansion (19). Both of these latter influences would impede left ventricular stroke volume and CO. In the healthy heart, preload effects are usually expected to dominate the (net) effect of changing intrathoracic pressures on stroke volume, but, during strenuous exercise, several additional factors arise that may facilitate or override the effects of a changing intrathoracic pressure per se. These factors include 1) the "peripheral pump" provided by contracting skeletal muscles, which is important, especially in strenuous exercise, in enhancing venous return from the legs (21); 2) the large swings in lung volume that will influence the compliance of the intrathoracic vasculature (24); and 3) reduced systemic venous compliance because of high levels of sympathetic efferent output during exercise. Furthermore, very large negative and positive swings in intrathoracic pressure occur with inspiration and expiration during strenuous exercise, and it is difficult to predict what the net effect of the opposing influences would be on stroke volume in the steady state.

Given our finding of reduced stroke volume with respiratory muscle unloading during maximal exercise, we would speculate that the less negative pleural pressure during inspiration reduced venous return (relative to control), thereby resulting in a net reduction in stroke volume and CO in the steady state. Additional mechanical influences that might have affected stroke volume during respiratory muscle unloading via PAV would include 1) the less positive pleural pressure during expiration, which may have aided left ventricular filling; and 2) the relatively small but consistent increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, which would increase afterload on the right ventricle. Given the relatively small change in Ppa values, we think that these possibilities are highly unlikely (22). There are some limited, indirect data that support our findings and interpretation with unloading, including the higher venal caval flow rate observed during inspiration compared with expiration at both rest and mild exercise in supine humans (27), and the decrease in stroke volume and CO observed in healthy humans at rest when intrathoracic pressure was increased via continuous positive airway pressure (4, 15). Conversely, during mild exercise, Giesbricht et al. (6) found no effect of unloading (with PAV) or elastic loading on breath-by-breath VO2, which probably also reflected an unchanging CO.

Our reduced stroke volume during unloading was also not predictable from the lack of effect of inspiratory resistive loading on stroke volume and CO that we observed at VO2 max (see Fig. 5). This lack of effect of further negativity in pleural pressure during inspiration may mean that the extreme negative pressure incurred during loading was beyond the level at which venous return would be enhanced (24). Alternatively, we may have simply reached the limits of ventricular expansion during diastole imposed by the pericardium (26). In either case, stroke volume and CO would be independent of further reductions in pleural pressure under control conditions at VO2 max. We also note that respiratory muscle loading reduced inspiratory pleural pressure but did not change expiratory pressures. If expiratory pressure had been increased (as sometimes occurs normally with increasing expiratory flow resistance during strenuous exercise), stroke volume may actually have fallen during maximal exercise.

In summary, our findings show a clear, consistent, and substantial effect of respiratory muscle unloading on reducing stroke volume and CO at maximal exercise, which we speculate may be due both to a reduced metabolic requirement and to the effects of a less negative pleural pressure on venous return. Certainly, more direct testing is needed to address these mechanisms. Perhaps the use of direct visualization techniques to obtain a beat-by-beat time course of change in stroke volume with unloading during maximal and submaximal exercise would provide a more definitive test of the effect of changes in pleural pressure per se.

Respiratory muscle work and CO distribution. Our present results, when combined with our previous thermodilution measurements of Qlegs (8), permit us to address for the first time the effects of respiratory muscle work on CO and its distribution during maximal exercise. We summarize the key findings in Fig. 6, which shows the average effects on O2 transport and uptake, of the increases and reductions in the Wb by ±50% and also shows the extrapolation of these unloading effects to a zero Wb, based on the regression lines developed from data over the range of 25-75% reductions in the Wb (see Fig. 2 and Ref. 8). Note that, under control conditions with a maximal CO of 26.5 l/min and VO2 of 4.40 l/min, 77% of CO was distributed to working locomotor muscles, and a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 across the legs and across the whole body exceeded 85-90% of O2 extraction. With an increased work of inspiration (greater than control), CO remained unchanged, whereas leg vascular resistance increased and Qlegs fell (secondary to decreased leg vascular conductance), resulting in a substantial reduction in the fraction of CO distributed to working limbs (8). O2 extraction across the legs was unchanged, and therefore a substantial reduction occurred in leg VO2. However, with respiratory muscle unloading, CO and total VO2 were reduced, and Qlegs and VO2 were increased, secondary to decreased leg vascular resistance. Thus unloading of the respiratory muscles resulted in a substantial increase in the fraction of total CO distributed to leg muscles and in the fraction of total VO2 consumed by the legs.


View larger version (30K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 6.   Relative effects of changing Wb at maximal exercise on total and leg blood flow (A), VO2 (B), a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2 (C), and resistance based on regression (D). Data for leg blood flow, VO2, a-<OVL>v</OVL>DO2, and resistance are taken from Harms et al. (8). Values at zero Wb are extrapolated from following regression equations: leg blood flow = -0.034(Wb) - 0.0003(Wb2) + 103.9, leg VO2 = -0.026(Wb) - 0.0004(Wb2) + 103.5, and leg vascular resistance = 0.101(Wb) + 92.0. See Fig. 2 for whole body blood flow and VO2 regression equations.

The present study of respiratory muscle loading and unloading effects on total CO helps to explain some of the effects of respiratory muscle work on limb blood flow previously reported (8). First, the previously observed increases and decreases in Qlegs with unloading and loading, respectively, are not attributable to coincidental changes in total CO (which fell with unloading and was unchanged with loading). Thus these data support our previous contention that a change in the Wb during exercise caused local reflex vasodilation or vasoconstriction of working limb vasculature, presumably mediated by a changing sympathetic efferent output (8). Second, the fall in Qlegs with respiratory muscle loading was almost double the increase in Qlegs with unloading (see Fig. 6), and this difference may be attributable to the fact that CO was maintained with respiratory muscle loading but fell substantially with respiratory muscle unloading. Thus, with respiratory muscle unloading, the reflex vasodilation in leg muscle resulted in relatively small increases in blood flow, in part because the total "available" blood flow was markedly reduced.

Finally, Fig. 7 shows the estimated distribution of total CO to respiratory and to leg locomotor muscles under physiological control conditions at VO2 max. The mean value shown for Qlegs (20.3 ± 0.5 l/min) is the measured value with the use of the thermodilution technique obtained under control conditions at VO2 max (see Fig. 6; Ref. 8). This value is labeled as "leg" blood flow, but we are uncertain whether this measurement includes blood flow to all limb musculature actually involved in the exercise. The value for respiratory muscle blood flow (4.2 ± 0.1 l/min) is taken from the reduction in CO observed between control and unloaded conditions and extrapolated to zero levels of Wb (see Fig. 6). Thus these values would mean that, of the mean maximal 26.5 l/min CO in our subjects, 77% of this total was directed to working legs, 16% to the respiratory muscles, and 7% to other metabolically active tissues. This derived 7% estimate appears to be low, given the mean of 9% of CO estimated by others as the minimum blood flow required by skin, heart, brain, kidneys, and liver at VO2 max (21). Accordingly, we propose in Fig. 7 a range of blood flow distribution that recognizes both the present findings of respiratory muscle unloading effects on blood flow and published data on blood flow requirements of nonskeletal muscle tissue during maximal exercise. Almost identical average values were obtained for the partitioning of total VO2 max of 4.40 l/min.


View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Fig. 7.   Distribution of total CO among legs, respiratory muscles (RM), and other metabolically active tissues (skin, heart, brain, kidneys, and liver) at VO2 max. CO is mean value measured in our subjects at VO2 max, control (26.5 ± 0.8 l/min). Leg blood flow (Qlegs) was also measured under control conditions at VO2 max (20.3 l/min; Ref. 8). Respiratory muscle blood flow (QRM) at VO2 max was assumed to be equal to measured fall in CO obtained with respiratory muscle unloading at VO2 max and extrapolated to zero Wb (26.5-22.3 = 4.2 l/min; see Fig. 6). Range of blood flows to RM (14-16%) and to other nonskeletal muscle tissues (Qother; 7-9%) represents values based on our present measurements for RM extrapolated to zero levels for Wb (16 and 7%) and those values that take into account published values for nonskeletal muscle blood flow (14 and 9%). See text for further details.

Applicability of findings. These cardiovascular effects of respiratory muscle work normally encountered at VO2 max are indeed substantial, in terms of both the requirement of these muscles for an average of 14-16% share of total CO and the apparent reflex vasoconstriction of leg locomotor muscle vasculature normally elicited by respiratory muscle work. How realistic are these estimates of blood flow requirements of the respiratory muscles and their effect on blood flow distribution during maximal exercise? First, our data are consistent with measurements of the changes in VO2 in respiratory muscles and CO associated with hyperpnea reported in humans. Anholm et al. (3) increased VE to 127-193 l/min over a 4-min period in resting humans and observed increases of 4.3 ± 1.0 l/min in CO and 411 ± 92 ml/min in VO2. Also in resting subjects, Aaron et al. (1) mimicked the Wb and respiratory muscle recruitment patterns experienced by healthy subjects during maximal exercise. They reported that the VO2 of respiratory muscles averaged almost 400 ml/min (or 10% of total VO2 max) at VE values of 113-185 l/min and was 14-15% of VO2 max in several of the subjects with high levels of VE, significant expiratory flow limitation, and high levels of the Wb at maximal exercise.

Direct measurement, in the pony, of respiratory muscle blood flow at maximal exercise with the use of infused microspheres showed that ~16% of the total CO was directed to "inspiratory and expiratory" muscles, and blood flow to the diaphragm (on a per-weight basis) exceeded that in limb locomotor muscles (11). Similar studies in pigs and rats also showed substantial exercise-induced increases in diaphragm and expiratory muscle blood flow but not to the same extent as in the pony (10, 14). Of course, these anatomic studies of blood flow distribution do not consider whether these conventionally designated inspiratory and expiratory muscles may take on locomotor and/or postural stabilization roles during exercise or whether traditionally nonrespiratory muscles may assume some ventilatory role during exercise, especially in running quadrupeds (2). Furthermore, the studies of hyperpnea in resting humans probably do not precisely mimic the patterns of respiratory muscle recruitment experienced during exercise, even when the total Wb is similar (1). Also, because the subjects' locomotor muscles are at rest in these experiments, there is no "competition" for blood flow distribution between limb and respiratory muscles (8). Thus our present approach of using respiratory muscle unloading during exercise may represent the most physiological method to date to quantify the blood flow requirements of the respiratory muscle work during exercise and its effects on blood flow distribution. In summary, given the reasonably close agreement among findings obtained by three quite different approaches and across species (1, 10, 11, 14), we believe it is not unreasonable to conclude that respiratory muscle work at maximal exercise requires an average of 14-16% of the total CO as estimated by our extrapolation of measured values and, furthermore, that reflex effects on Qlegs associated with respiratory muscle work at VO2 max are sufficient to cause changes of up to 20% in the proportion of the total CO made available to working legs (see Fig. 6).

How generalizable are these findings beyond our specific experimental design? First, we emphasize that our data were obtained in highly fit young male subjects at greater than normal VO2 max. Our previous study of these types of fit subjects showed that they commonly experienced high ventilatory outputs, significant expiratory flow limitation with increased end-expiratory lung volume during strenuous and maximal exercise, use of up to 90-95% of their inspiratory muscle capacity for pressure generation, and exponential increases in the O2 cost of breathing as exercise intensity increased from strenuous through maximal levels (1, 9). Accordingly, we would expect the blood flow requirements of the respiratory muscles at maximal exercise as presently reported to represent maximal values in healthy young men. Other subjects or conditions in which we would also expect a high Wb with similar substantial cardiovascular consequences would include elderly healthy fit subjects (9) and young fit female subjects (12), both of whom show excessive flow limitation and/or ventilatory requirements during moderate-to-strenuous exercise. Similarly, strenuous exercise in environments with added ventilatory stimuli such as hypoxia or heat would also be expected to require high levels of ventilatory work and to impose substantial cardiovascular consequences. On the other hand, we do not know how the amount of reflex vasoconstriction influenced by respiratory muscle work during maximal exercise may differ among subjects and conditions. For example, the amount of sympathetically induced reflex vasoconstriction in response to isometric exercise has recently been shown to be reduced by physical training (13, 25). Whether the ventilatory load in any of these conditions is ever sufficient to cause measurable effects on CO or limb vascular resistance during submaximal exercise remains untested.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are indebted to Dr. Magdy Younes, who invented the proportional-assist ventilator and loaned us one of his prototypes to conduct these studies. We are also grateful to the very helpful advice and critique supplied by Dr. Loring Rowell and the valuable input on cardiac dynamics provided by Drs. Steven Scharf, James Robotham, and John Newman.

    FOOTNOTES

This research was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Grant RO1 HL-15469. C. A. Harms, T. J. Wetter, and S. R. McClaran were supported by an NHLBI training grant. C. A. Harms was additionally supported by a Parker B. Francis Foundation Fellowship.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Address for reprint requests: C. A. Harms, Dept. of Kinesiology, 8 Natatorium, Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS 66506 (E-mail: caharms{at}ksu.edu).

Received 22 January 1998; accepted in final form 1 April 1998.

    REFERENCES
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References

1.   Aaron, E. A., K. C. Seow, B. D. Johnson, and J. A. Dempsey. Oxygen cost of exercise hyperpnea: implications for performance. J. Appl. Physiol. 72: 1818-1825, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text].

2.   Ainsworth, D. M., C. A. Smith, K. S. Henderson, and J. A. Dempsey. Breathing during exercise in dogs---passive or active? J. Appl. Physiol. 81: 586-595, 1996[Abstract/Free Full Text].

3.   Anholm, J. D., R. L. Johnson, and M. Ramanathan. Changes in cardiac output during sustained maximal ventilation in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 63: 181-187, 1987[Abstract/Free Full Text].

4.   Bradley, T. D., R. M. Holloway, R. R. McLaughlin, B. L. Ross, J. Walters, and P. P. Liu. Cardiac output responses to continuous positive airway pressure in congestive heart failure. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 145: 377-382, 1992[Medline].

5.   Coast, J. R., R. A. Jensen, S. S. Cassidy, M. Ramanathan, and R. L. Johnson. Cardiac output and O2 consumption during inspiratory threshold loaded breathing. J. Appl. Physiol. 64: 1624-1628, 1988[Abstract/Free Full Text].

6.   Giesbricht, B. B., F. Ali, and M. Younes. Short-term effect of tidal pleural pressure swings on pulmonary blood flow during rest and exercise (Abstract). J. Appl. Physiol. 71: 465, 1991[Abstract/Free Full Text].

7.   Goldman, M., G. Grimby, and J. Mead. Mechanical work of breathing derived from rib cage and abdominal V-P partitioning. J. Appl. Physiol. 41: 752-764, 1976[Abstract/Free Full Text].

8.   Harms, C. A., M. A. Babcock, S. R. McClaran, D. F. Pegelow, G. A. Nickele, W. B. Nelson, and J. A. Dempsey. Respiratory muscle work compromises leg blood flow during maximal exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 82: 1573-1583, 1997[Abstract/Free Full Text].

9.   Johnson, B. D., K. W. Saupe, and J. A. Dempsey. Mechanical constraints on exercise hyperpnea in endurance athletes. J. Appl. Physiol. 73: 874-886, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text].

10.   Laughlin, M. H., R. E. Klabunde, M. D. Delp, and R. B. Armstrong. Effects of dipyridamole on muscle blood flow in exercising miniature swine. Am. J. Physiol. 257 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 26): H1507-H1515, 1989[Abstract/Free Full Text].

11.   Manohar, M. Blood flow to the respiratory and limb muscles and to abdominal organs during maximal exertion in ponies. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 377: 25-35, 1986[Abstract/Free Full Text].

12.   McClaran, S. R., C. A. Harms, D. F. Pegelow, and J. A. Dempsey. Smaller lungs in women affect exercise hyperpnea. J. Appl. Physiol. 84: 1872-1881, 1998[Abstract/Free Full Text].

13.   Mostoufi-Moab, S., E. J. Widmaier, J. A. Cornett, K. Gray, and L. I. Sinoway. Forearm training reduces the exercise pressor reflex during ischemic rhythmic handgrip. J. Appl. Physiol. 84: 277-283, 1998[Abstract/Free Full Text].

14.   Musch, T. I. Elevated diaphragmatic blood flow during submaximal exercise in rats with chronic heart failure. Am. J. Physiol. 265 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 34): H1721-H1726, 1993[Abstract/Free Full Text].

15.   Naughton, M. T., M. A. Rahman, K. Hara, J. S. Floras, and T. D. Bradley. Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on intrathoracic and left ventricular transmural pressures in patients with congestive heart failure. Circulation 91: 1725-1731, 1995[Abstract/Free Full Text].

16.   Otis, A. B. The work of breathing. In: Handbook of Physiology. Respiration. Washington, DC: Am. Physiol. Soc., 1964, sect. 3, vol. I, chapt. 17, p. 463-476.

17.   Pinsky, M. R., W. R. Summer, R. A. Wise, S. Permutt, and B. Bromberger-Barnea. Augmentation of cardiac function by elevation of intrathoracic pressure. J. Appl. Physiol. 54: 950-955, 1983[Abstract/Free Full Text].

18.   Robotham, J. L., and J. Peters. Mechanical effects of intra-thoracic pressure on ventricular performance. In: Heart/Lung Interactions, edited by S. Scharf, and S. Cassidy. New York: Dekker, 1989, p. 251-283.

19.   Robotham, J. L., J. Rabson, S. Permutt, K. Sagawa, A. A. Shoukas, and B. Bromberger-Barnea. Left ventricular hemodynamics during respiration. J. Appl. Physiol. 47: 1295-1303, 1979[Abstract/Free Full Text].

20.   Rowell, L. B., and D. S. O'Leary. Reflex control of the circulation during exercise: chemoreflexes and mechanoreflexes. J. Appl. Physiol. 69: 407-418, 1990[Abstract/Free Full Text].

21.   Rowell, L. B., D. S. O'Leary, and D. L. Kellogg, Jr. Integration of cardiovascular control systems in dynamic exercise. In: Handbook of Physiology. Exercise: Regulation and Integration of Multiple Systems. Bethesda, MD: Am. Physiol. Soc., 1996, sect. 12, chapt. 17, p. 770-837.

22.   Scharf, S. M. Right ventricular load tolerance: importance of left ventricular function. In: Prospectives en Réanimation, les Interactions Cardiopulmonaires. Paris: Societi de Reanimo de Langue Francis, Arnett, 1994, p. 17-28.

23.   Scharf, S. M., J. A. Bianco, D. E. Tow, and R. Brown. The effects of large negative intrathoracic pressure on left ventricular function in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation 63: 871-875, 1981[Abstract/Free Full Text].

24.   Scharf, S. M., R. Brown, K. G. Warner, and S. Khuri. Intrathoracic pressures and left ventricular configuration with respiratory maneuvers. J. Appl. Physiol. 66: 481-491, 1989[Abstract/Free Full Text].

25.   Somers, V. K., K. C. Leo, R. Shields, M. Clary, and A. L. Mark. Forearm endurance training attenuates sympathetic nerve responses to isometric handgrip in normal humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 72: 1039-1043, 1992[Abstract/Free Full Text].

26.   Stray-Gunderson, J., T. I. Musch, G. C. Haidet, D. P. Swain, G. A. Ordway, and J. H. Mitchell. The effect of pericardectomy on maximal oxygen consumption and maximal cardiac output in untrained dogs. Circ. Res. 58: 523-530, 1986[Abstract/Free Full Text].

27.   Wexler, L. D., D. H. Bergel, I. T. Gabe, G. S. Makin, and C. J. Mills. Velocity of blood flow in normal human venae cavae. Circ. Res. 23: 349-359, 1968[Abstract/Free Full Text].

28.   Willeput, R., C. Rondeux, and A. DeTroyer. Breathing affects venous return from legs in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 57: 971-976, 1984[Abstract/Free Full Text].

29.   Younes, M., A. Puddy, D. Roberts, R. B. Light, A. Quesada, K. Taylor, L. Oppenheimer, and H. Cramp. Proportional assist ventilation. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 145: 121-129, 1992[Medline].


J APPL PHYSIOL 85(2):609-618
8570-7587/98 $5.00 Copyright © 1998 the American Physiological Society



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
I. Vogiatzis, D. Athanasopoulos, H. Habazettl, W. M. Kuebler, H. Wagner, C. Roussos, P. D. Wagner, and S. Zakynthinos
Intercostal muscle blood flow limitation in athletes during maximal exercise
J. Physiol., July 15, 2009; 587(14): 3665 - 3677.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
G. R. Chiappa, F. Queiroga Jr., E. Meda, L. F. Ferreira, F. Diefenthaeler, M. Nunes, M. A. Vaz, M. C. L. Machado, L. E. Nery, and J. A. Neder
Heliox Improves Oxygen Delivery and Utilization during Dynamic Exercise in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2009; 179(11): 1004 - 1010.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
I. Vogiatzis, D. Athanasopoulos, R. Boushel, J. A. Guenette, M. Koskolou, M. Vasilopoulou, H. Wagner, C. Roussos, P. D. Wagner, and S. Zakynthinos
Contribution of respiratory muscle blood flow to exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue in trained cyclists
J. Physiol., November 15, 2008; 586(22): 5575 - 5587.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Br. J. Sports. Med.Home page
A M Edwards, C Wells, and R Butterly
Concurrent inspiratory muscle and cardiovascular training differentially improves both perceptions of effort and 5000 m running performance compared with cardiovascular training alone
Br. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2008; 42(10): 823 - 827.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
A Borghi-Silva, C C Oliveira, C Carrascosa, J Maia, D C Berton, F Queiroga Jr, E M Ferreira, D R Almeida, L E Nery, and J A Neder
Respiratory muscle unloading improves leg muscle oxygenation during exercise in patients with COPD
Thorax, October 1, 2008; 63(10): 910 - 915.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. L. Smith, J. E. Butler, P. G. Martin, R. A. McBain, and J. L. Taylor
Increased ventilation does not impair maximal voluntary contractions of the elbow flexors
J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2008; 104(6): 1674 - 1682.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
A. Borghi-Silva, C. Carrascosa, C. C. Oliveira, A. C. Barroco, D. C. Berton, D. Vilaca, E. B. Lira-Filho, D. Ribeiro, L. E. Nery, and J. A. Neder
Effects of respiratory muscle unloading on leg muscle oxygenation and blood volume during high-intensity exercise in chronic heart failure
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2008; 294(6): H2465 - H2472.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
G. R. Chiappa, A. Borghi-Silva, L. F. Ferreira, C. Carrascosa, C. C. Oliveira, J. Maia, A. C. Gimenes, F. Queiroga Jr, D. Berton, E. M. V. Ferreira, et al.
Kinetics of muscle deoxygenation are accelerated at the onset of heavy-intensity exercise in patients with COPD: relationship to central cardiovascular dynamics
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2008; 104(5): 1341 - 1350.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
G. R. Chiappa, B. T. Roseguini, P. J.C. Vieira, C. N. Alves, A. Tavares, E. R. Winkelmann, E. L. Ferlin, R. Stein, and J. P. Ribeiro
Inspiratory Muscle Training Improves Blood Flow to Resting and Exercising Limbs in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 29, 2008; 51(17): 1663 - 1671.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
J. C. Taylor, Z. Li, H. T. Yang, M. H. Laughlin, and R. L. Terjung
{alpha}-Adrenergic inhibition increases collateral circuit conductance in rats following acute occlusion of the femoral artery
J. Physiol., March 15, 2008; 586(6): 1649 - 1667.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
L. M. Romer and M. I. Polkey
Exercise-induced respiratory muscle fatigue: implications for performance
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2008; 104(3): 879 - 888.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
M. Amann, D. F. Pegelow, A. J. Jacques, and J. A. Dempsey
Inspiratory muscle work in acute hypoxia influences locomotor muscle fatigue and exercise performance of healthy humans
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): R2036 - R2045.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
B. Saltin
Exercise hyperaemia: magnitude and aspects on regulation in humans
J. Physiol., September 15, 2007; 583(3): 819 - 823.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
I. Vogiatzis, O. Georgiadou, M. Koskolou, D. Athanasopoulos, K. Kostikas, S. Golemati, H. Wagner, C. Roussos, P. D. Wagner, and S. Zakynthinos
Effects of hypoxia on diaphragmatic fatigue in highly trained athletes
J. Physiol., May 15, 2007; 581(1): 299 - 308.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp PhysiolHome page
S. A. Ward
Muscle-energetic and cardio-pulmonary determinants of exercise tolerance in humans: Ventilatory control in humans: constraints and limitations
Exp Physiol, March 1, 2007; 92(2): 357 - 366.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur Respir JHome page
O. Georgiadou, I. Vogiatzis, G. Stratakos, A. Koutsoukou, S. Golemati, A. Aliverti, C. Roussos, and S. Zakynthinos
Effects of rehabilitation on chest wall volume regulation during exercise in COPD patients
Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2007; 29(2): 284 - 291.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
J. D. Miller, C. A. Smith, S. J. Hemauer, and J. A. Dempsey
The effects of inspiratory intrathoracic pressure production on the cardiovascular response to submaximal exercise in health and chronic heart failure
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): H580 - H592.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ERRHome page
P. T. Macklem
Circulatory effects of expiratory flow-limited exercise, dynamic hyperinflation and expiratory muscle pressure
Eur. Respir. Rev., December 1, 2006; 15(100): 80 - 84.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
A. K. McConnell and M. Lomax
The influence of inspiratory muscle work history and specific inspiratory muscle training upon human limb muscle fatigue
J. Physiol., November 15, 2006; 577(1): 445 - 457.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
N. D. Eves, S. R. Petersen, M. J. Haykowsky, E. Y. Wong, and R. L. Jones
Helium-Hyperoxia, Exercise, and Respiratory Mechanics in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2006; 174(7): 763 - 771.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
I. Vogiatzis, O. Georgiadou, I. Giannopoulou, M. Koskolou, S. Zakynthinos, K. Kostikas, E. Kosmas, H. Wagner, E. Peraki, A. Koutsoukou, et al.
Effects of exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia and work rate on diaphragmatic fatigue in highly trained endurance athletes
J. Physiol., April 15, 2006; 572(2): 539 - 549.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
L. M. Romer, A. T. Lovering, H. C. Haverkamp, D. F. Pegelow, and J. A. Dempsey
Effect of inspiratory muscle work on peripheral fatigue of locomotor muscles in healthy humans
J. Physiol., March 1, 2006; 571(2): 425 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
S. P Mortensen, E. A Dawson, C. C Yoshiga, M. K Dalsgaard, R. Damsgaard, N. H Secher, and J. Gonzalez-Alonso
Limitations to systemic and locomotor limb muscle oxygen delivery and uptake during maximal exercise in humans
J. Physiol., July 1, 2005; 566(1): 273 - 285.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
M. D. Delp and D. S. O'Leary
Integrative control of the skeletal muscle microcirculation in the maintenance of arterial pressure during exercise
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2004; 97(3): 1112 - 1118.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
D. J. Padilla, P. McDonough, C. A. Kindig, H. H. Erickson, and D. C. Poole
Ventilatory dynamics and control of blood gases after maximal exercise in the Thoroughbred horse
J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2004; 96(6): 2187 - 2193.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ThoraxHome page
A Aliverti, N Stevenson, R L Dellaca, A Lo Mauro, A Pedotti, and P M A Calverley
Regional chest wall volumes during exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Thorax, March 1, 2004; 59(3): 210 - 216.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
J. R. Rodman, K. S. Henderson, C. A. Smith, and J. A. Dempsey
Cardiovascular effects of the respiratory muscle metaboreflexes in dogs: rest and exercise
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2003; 95(3): 1159 - 1169.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
L. A. Garske, M. G. Brown, and S. C. Morrison
Acetazolamide reduces exercise capacity and increases leg fatigue under hypoxic conditions
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 991 - 996.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
T. G. Babb, D. S. DeLorey, and B. L. Wyrick
Ventilatory response to exercise in aged runners breathing He-O2 or inspired CO2
J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2003; 94(2): 685 - 693.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. A. L. Calbet, R. Boushel, G. Radegran, H. Sondergaard, P. D. Wagner, and B. Saltin
Why is VO2 max after altitude acclimatization still reduced despite normalization of arterial O2 content?
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 2003; 284(2): R304 - R316.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
M.R. Abraham, L. J. Olson, M. J. Joyner, S. T. Turner, K. C. Beck, and B. D. Johnson
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Genotype Modulates Pulmonary Function and Exercise Capacity in Treated Patients With Congestive Stable Heart Failure
Circulation, October 1, 2002; 106(14): 1794 - 1799.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
H. B. Nielsen, P. P. Bredmose, M. Stromstad, S. Volianitis, B. Quistorff, and N. H. Secher
Bicarbonate attenuates arterial desaturation during maximal exercise in humans
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2002; 93(2): 724 - 731.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
D. S. DeLorey, S. S. Wang, and J. K. Shoemaker
Evidence for sympatholysis at the onset of forearm exercise
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2002; 93(2): 555 - 560.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
M. A. Babcock, D. F. Pegelow, C. A. Harms, and J. A. Dempsey
Effects of respiratory muscle unloading on exercise-induced diaphragm fatigue
J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2002; 93(1): 201 - 206.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
P. A. Derchak, A. W. Sheel, B. J. Morgan, and J. A. Dempsey
Effects of expiratory muscle work on muscle sympathetic nerve activity
J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2002; 92(4): 1539 - 1552.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
D. R Seals
Robin Hood for the lungs? A respiratory metaboreflex that 'steals' blood flow from locomotor muscles
J. Physiol., November 15, 2001; 537(1): 2 - 2.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
A W. Sheel, P A. Derchak, B. J Morgan, D. F Pegelow, A. J Jacques, and J. A Dempsey
Fatiguing inspiratory muscle work causes reflex reduction in resting leg blood flow in humans
J. Physiol., November 15, 2001; 537(1): 277 - 289.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
F Ozyener, H B Rossiter, S A Ward, and B J Whipp
Influence of exercise intensity on the on- and off-transient kinetics of pulmonary oxygen uptake in humans
J. Physiol., June 15, 2001; 533(3): 891 - 902.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
M. Simon, P. LeBlanc, J. Jobin, M. Desmeules, M. J. Sullivan, and F. Maltais
Limitation of lower limb {V}O2 during cycling exercise in COPD patients
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2001; 90(3): 1013 - 1019.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. A. Harms, T. J. Wetter, C. M. St. Croix, D. F. Pegelow, and J. A. Dempsey
Effects of respiratory muscle work on exercise performance
J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2000; 89(1): 131 - 138.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
PhysiologyHome page
C. M. Spengler and U. Boutellier
Breathless Legs? Consider Training Your Respiration
Physiology, April 1, 2000; 15(2): 101 - 105.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
B. D. Johnson, K. C. Beck, L. J. Olson, K. A. O'Malley, T. G. Allison, R. W. Squires, and G. T. Gau
Ventilatory Constraints During Exercise in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Chest, February 1, 2000; 117(2): 321 - 332.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
T. J. Wetter, C. A. Harms, W. B. Nelson, D. F. Pegelow, and J. A. Dempsey
Influence of respiratory muscle work on VO2 and leg blood flow during submaximal exercise
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 1999; 87(2): 643 - 651.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
I. Iandelli, A. Aliverti, B. Kayser, R. Dellaca, S. J. Cala, R. Duranti, S. Kelly, G. Scano, P. Sliwinski, S. Yan, et al.
Determinants of exercise performance in normal men with externally imposed expiratory flow limitation
J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2002; 92(5): 1943 - 1952.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
P. McDonough, C. A. Kindig, H. H. Erickson, and D. C. Poole
Mechanistic basis for the gas exchange threshold in Thoroughbred horses
J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2002; 92(4): 1499 - 1505.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Harms, C. A.
Right arrow Articles by Dempsey, J. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Harms, C. A.
Right arrow Articles by Dempsey, J. A.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online