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J Appl Physiol 88: 713-721, 2000;
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Vol. 88, Issue 2, 713-721, February 2000

Carbonic anhydrase inhibition delays plasma lactate appearance with no effect on ventilatory threshold

Barry W. Scheuermann1, John M. Kowalchuk1,2, Donald H. Paterson1, and David A. Cunningham1,2

1 Centre for Activity and Ageing, School of Kinesiology, and 2 Department of Physiology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7


    ABSTRACT
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

The effect of carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition with acetazolamide (Acz, 10 mg/kg body wt iv) on exercise performance and the ventilatory (VET) and lactate (LaT) thresholds was studied in seven men during ramp exercise (25 W/min) to exhaustion. Breath-by-breath measurements of gas exchange were obtained. Arterialized venous blood was sampled from a dorsal hand vein and analyzed for plasma pH, PCO2, and lactate concentration ([La-]pl). VET [expressed as O2 uptake (VO2), ml/min] was determined using the V-slope method. LaT (expressed as VO2, ml/min) was determined from the work rate (WR) at which [La-]pl increased 1.0 mM above rest levels. Peak WR was higher in control (Con) than in Acz sutdies [339 ± 14 vs. 315 ± 14 (SE) W]. Submaximal exercise VO2 was similar in Acz and Con; the lower VO2 at exhaustion in Acz than in Con (3.824 ± 0.150 vs. 4.283 ± 0.148 l/min) was appropriate for the lower WR. CO2 output (VCO2) was lower in Acz than in Con at exercise intensities >= 125 W and at exhaustion (4.375 ± 0.158 vs. 5.235 ± 0.148 l/min). [La-]pl was lower in Acz than in Con during submaximal exercise >= 150 W and at exhaustion (7.5 ± 1.1 vs. 11.5 ± 1.1 mmol/l). VET was similar in Acz and Con (2.483 ± 0.086 and 2.362 ± 0.110 l/min, respectively), whereas the LaT occurred at a higher VO2 in Acz than in Con (2.738 ± 0.223 vs. 2.190 ± 0.235 l/min). CA inhibition with Acz is associated with impaired elimination of CO2 during the non-steady-state condition of ramp exercise. The similarity in VET in Con and Acz suggests that La- production is similar between conditions but La- appearance in plasma is reduced and/or La- uptake by other tissues is enhanced after the Acz treatment.

ramp exercise; acetazolamide; exercise performance; acid-base status


    INTRODUCTION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

CARBONIC ANHYDRASE (CA), the enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction involving the hydration-dehydration of CO2 and HCO-3, facilitates the transport of CO2 from the tissues to the lungs. Although previous reports indicate an acetazolamide (Acz)-induced reduction in exercise tolerance (18, 20), maximal aerobic capacity, determined from peak O2 uptake (VO2 peak) was reduced (18) or unaffected by Acz administration (20, 22). In these studies, Acz was administered chronically and resulted in a metabolic acidosis before the onset of exercise. Although the reason(s) for the reduced exercise tolerance could not be confirmed in these studies, it was suggested that an altered acid-base status may have played a role in limiting exercise performance (18, 20). Kowalchuk et al. (9) reported a lower VO2 peak but similar power output after acute infusion of Acz compared with the uninhibited condition during 30 s of maximal-intensity exercise. This effect was not associated with any difference in plasma acid-base status before or immediately after the exercise bout, suggesting that CA inhibition may directly affect the exercise response (9).

During exercise of progressively increasing intensity, a work rate (WR) is reached where, relative to O2 uptake (VO2), there is a disproportionate increase in CO2 output (VCO2) and ventilation [VE; i.e., ventilatory threshold (VET)], as well as an increase in muscle and blood lactate (La-) concentration {[La-]; i.e., lactate threshold (LaT)}. The VET and LaT are typically observed at the same exercise intensity; however, a "cause-effect" relationship remains controversial (3). Lactic acid (HLa) is almost completely dissociated at physiological pH (pKa = 3.8). The H+ generated coincident with La- formation is buffered primarily by HCO-3, resulting in the formation of CO2 and H2O at the tissues according to the net reaction
H<SUP>+</SUP> + HCO<SUP>−</SUP><SUB>3</SUB> &cjs0420; CO<SUB>2</SUB> + H<SUB>2</SUB>O
The presence of CA speeds the dehydration of HCO-3, thus ensuring rapid equilibrium between CO2 species. Consequently, this increase in muscle CO2 production results in an increase in venous blood PCO2 and H+ concentration ([H+]), which contributes to the disproportionate increases in VE and VCO2 relative to VO2 that are observed coincident with the VET (4). Acute CA inhibition with Acz is associated with a lower VCO2 and a reduction in plasma [La-] ([La-]pl) during short-term maximal exercise (9), both of which may be expected to affect the VET and/or the LaT, but the effect of acute Acz administration on the exercise response to ramp exercise has not been examined.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the exercise response to an acute infusion of Acz during progressively increasing ramp exercise to determine the role of CA on gas exchange at the lungs and the plasma La- response during submaximal and maximal exercise. We hypothesized that CA inhibition would result in a rightward shift in the VET-VO2 and LaT-VO2 relationship subsequent to a slowed equilibration between CO2 species at the muscle and delayed appearance of plasma La-. By administering Acz acutely, the effects of CA inhibition alone could be examined without the associated metabolic acidosis that occurs with long-term Acz use.


    METHODS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Subjects. Seven healthy men [25 ± 2 (SE) yr old, 178 ± 2 cm height, 80.5 ± 3.1 kg body wt] participated in the study. Informed consent was obtained from each subject after the experimental protocol and all possible risks associated with participation in the study had been outlined to them. The study was approved by The University of Western Ontario Review Board for Health Sciences Research Involving Human Subjects.

Materials and methods. The subjects were studied on two occasions separated by ~1-2 wk during control (Con) and after acute Acz administration. For each subject, testing was performed at the same time of the day. Subjects were asked to abstain from beverages containing caffeine and from heavy exercise for >= 12 h before testing and to consume only a light meal before reporting to the laboratory. The subjects rested supine while a percutaneous Teflon catheter (Angiocath, 21 gauge) was placed into a dorsal hand vein to facilitate blood sampling and for the administration of Acz. Arterialization of the blood was achieved by wrapping the hand and forearm in a heating pad. After 15 min of rest, a blood sample was drawn, then Acz was infused (10 mg/kg body mass over a 3-min period). The administration of Acz was randomly ordered. A placebo was not administered. It is our experience that the side effects of Acz administration, although minor, are noticeable by the subject. After an additional 30 min of rest (15 min supine and 15 min seated upright), a blood sample was drawn and the subject moved to the cycle ergometer. Breath-by-breath measurements of ventilation and gas exchange were made throughout the exercise protocol. Arterialized venous blood samples were obtained at 1-min intervals during exercise and at exhaustion.

Each subject performed two incremental exercise tests whereby the WR was increased as a ramp function (25 W/min) to volitional exhaustion on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer (model H-300-R, Lode). VO2 peak was taken as the highest VO2 averaged over a 20-s interval. VET was determined from breath-by-breath plots by three independent observers. The VET was defined as the VO2 at which the ventilatory equivalent for VO2 (VE/VO2) and end-tidal PO2 (PETO2) systematically increased with no concomitant increase in the ventilatory equivalent for VCO2 (VE/VCO2) and decrease in end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2). The VET reported is the mean determined from the values provided by each observer.

Breath-by-breath plots were used to determine the slope (S) and intercept of the linear portions of the VCO2-VO2 response below and above the VET [<VET (S1) and >VET (S2)]. Data during loadless cycling, the 1st min of the ramp function, and the nonlinear portion above the VET (with use of VE/VCO2 and PETCO2 to indicate the onset of respiratory compensation) were excluded from the analysis.

Inspired and expired airflow and volumes were measured during the exercise test by a low-resistance, low-dead space (90 ml) bidirectional turbine and volume transducer (model VMM-110, Alpha Technologies); the volume signal was calibrated before each test with a syringe of known volume (990 ml). Respired gases were sampled continuously at the mouth (1 ml/s) by a mass spectrometer (model MGA-1100, Perkin-Elmer) for determination of the fractional concentrations of O2, CO2, and N2. The mass spectrometer was calibrated with precision-analyzed gas mixtures. Analog signals from the mass spectrometer and turbine transducer were sampled every 20 ms and stored on disk for later analysis. Breath-by-breath computations for VO2, VCO2, VE, PETO2, and PETCO2 were performed after delays in the analysis system and fluctuations in lung gas stores were taken into account in the computer algorithms (1). Temperature and water vapor corrections were made for conditions measured near the mouth. Heart rate was monitored using an electrocardiograph, with the electrodes placed in a modified V5 configuration.

Arterialized venous blood was drawn into syringes containing lithium heparin, mixed, placed in a slurry of ice and water, and analyzed after a short delay. Whole blood samples (200 µl) were analyzed at 37°C for plasma pH, PCO2, and [La-]pl with selective electrodes (StatProfile 9 Plus blood gas-electrolyte analyzer, Nova Biomedical Canada); the electrodes were calibrated before each test and at regular intervals during analysis. Plasma [H+] was calculated from measured pH; plasma HCO-3 concentration ([HCO-3]) was calculated from measured pH and PCO2. LaT was taken as the VO2 corresponding to the WR at which [La-]pl increased 1 mmol/l above resting levels.

Statistics. Ventilation, gas exchange, and plasma acid-base responses were analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Con vs. Acz and time as the main effects. A significant F ratio was further analyzed using Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc analysis. Least-squares linear regression analysis was performed to determine the slopes (S1 and S2) and intercepts for each subject and averaged to provide a group mean response, which was tested for differences with a Student's paired t-test. Statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Values are means ± SE.


    RESULTS
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Exercise performance, VE, VO2, and VCO2. The exercise response of a single subject during Con and Acz-induced CA inhibition is presented in Fig. 1. CA inhibition did not alter the ventilatory response, gas exchange, or plasma acid-base status at rest or during loadless cycling (Table 1). Peak WR achieved during the ramp exercise test was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con (315 ± 14 vs. 339 ± 14 W; Table 2). Submaximal VO2 was similar between conditions, but VO2 peak was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con (3.824 ± 0.150 vs. 4.283 ± 0.115 l/min; Fig. 2A, Table 2). When VO2 peak was expressed relative to peak WR (VO2/WR), there was no difference between Acz and Con (12.2 ± 0.7 and 12.8 ± 0.6 ml · min-1 · W-1, respectively).


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Fig. 1.   Breath-by-breath measurements of minute ventilation (VE), CO2 output (VCO2), O2 uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), ventilatory equivalents for O2 and CO2 (VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2), end-tidal gas tensions (PETO2 and PETCO2), and plasma HCO-3 and lactate (La-) concentrations ([HCO-3] and [La-]) for 1 subject in control condition (Con, A) and treated with acetazolamide (Acz, B) during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion. Vertical lines, ventilatory threshold (VET).


                              
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Table 1.   Effect of acute acetazolamide administration on ventilation, gas exchange, and acid-base status at rest and during loadless cycling


                              
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Table 2.   Peak work rate and VO2 peak during control studies and after acute Acz administration during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion



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Fig. 2.   Group mean response of VO2 (A), VCO2 (B), and VE (C) to Con () and Acz (open circle ) during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion. During submaximal exercise, only work rates in which all 7 subjects contributed to mean are plotted. Dashed lines extend to data points corresponding to exhaustion and reflect difference in peak work rate achieved in Acz and Con studies.

VCO2 was similar between conditions during submaximal exercise <= 100 W but was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con at exercise intensities >= 125 W and at exhaustion (4.375 ± 0.158 and 5.235 ± 0.148 l/min in Acz and Con, respectively; Fig. 2B); the lower (P < 0.05) peak VCO2 remained after normalization for WR (VCO2/WR: 14.0 ± 0.7 and 15.6 ± 0.7 ml · min-1 · W-1 for Acz and Con, respectively). The slope of the VCO2-VO2 relationship was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con during exercise below (S1: 0.91 ± 0.03 and 1.01 ± 0.02 for Acz and Con, respectively) and above the VET (S2: 1.13 ± 0.02 and 1.35 ± 0.05 for Acz and Con, respectively; Fig. 3).


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Fig. 3.   Effect of carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition with Acz on VCO2-VO2 relationship during exercise below (S1, A) and above (S2, B) VET. Symbols reflect individual responses; mean responses are joined by solid lines.

VE was similar between conditions at exercise intensities <= 200 W (Fig. 2C). A higher VE (P < 0.05) was observed in Acz than in Con at exercise intensities >= 225 W, although VE was similar at exhaustion (165 ± 11 and 170 ± 10 l/min for Acz and Con, respectively; Fig. 2C). The ventilatory equivalents for VO2 (VE/VO2) and VCO2 (VE/VCO2) were higher (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con at exercise intensities >= 250 W (Fig. 4).


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Fig. 4.   Group mean response of VE/VO2 (A) and VE/VCO2 (B) to Con () and Acz (open circle ) during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion. Only points in which all subjects contributed to mean value are plotted. Dashed lines extend to data points corresponding to exhaustion and reflect lower peak work rate achieved in Acz than in Con.

PETO2 was similar between conditions at rest and during moderate-intensity exercise (Fig. 5A). At higher-intensity exercise (250 and 275 W), PETO2 was higher (P < 0.05) in Acz, although no difference was observed at exhaustion (Fig. 5A). During exercise, PETCO2 increased (P < 0.05) transiently above loadless cycling values in Con but not in Acz (Fig. 5B). Acz administration resulted in a lower (P < 0.05) PETCO2 at exercise intensities >= 150 W; at exhaustion, PETCO2 was reduced (P < 0.05) below loadless cycling values in both conditions and was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con (31 ± 1 vs. 35 ± 1 Torr; Fig. 5B).


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Fig. 5.   Mean response demonstrating effect of Acz-induced CA inhibition (open circle ) vs. Con () on PETO2 (A), PETCO2 (B), and PETCO2-arterial PCO2 (ET-aPCO2) difference during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion. During submaximal exercise, only work rates where all 7 subjects contributed to mean are plotted. Dashed lines extend to data points corresponding to exhaustion and reflect difference in peak work rate achieved in Acz and Con.

Plasma acid-base status. To examine the effect of CA inhibition on submaximal and maximal exercise responses, independent of plasma acid-base changes, Acz was infused 30 min before the onset of exercise. These data represent the values measured in equilibrated plasma. Plasma [H+] was similar in Acz and Con at rest and during loadless cycling (Fig. 6A, Table 1) but was higher (P < 0.05) in Acz at all submaximal exercise intensities (Fig. 6A). Plasma [H+] increased (P < 0.05) above resting values during exercise and reached similar values at exhaustion. Plasma [HCO-3] was similar between conditions at rest or during loadless cycling (Fig. 6B, Table 1) and decreased (P < 0.05) below rest values at exercise intensities >= 250 W in Acz and >= 225 W in Con (Fig. 6B). Plasma [HCO-3] was lower (P < 0.05) in Con than in Acz at WRs >= 225 W (Fig. 6B).


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Fig. 6.   Group mean response of plasma H+ concentration ([H+], A), plasma [HCO-3] (B), plasma [La-] (C), and plasma arterial PCO2 (PaCO2, D) in Con () and Acz (open circle ) during progressive ramp exercise to exhaustion. Only points where all subjects contributed to mean value are plotted. Dashed lines extend to data points corresponding to exhaustion and reflect lower peak work rate achieved in Acz than in Con. R, rest.

[La-]pl was not affected by CA inhibition at rest or during loadless cycling (Fig. 6C). With exercise, [La-]pl increased (P < 0.05) above rest values at exercise intensities corresponding to >= 175 W in Con and >= 225 W in Acz (Fig. 6C). At exercise intensities >= 150 W, [La-]pl was lower (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con and was lower (P < 0.05) at exhaustion (7.5 ± 1.1 and 11.5 ± 1.1 mmol/l in Acz and Con, respectively); [La-]pl remained lower (P < 0.05) in Acz after normalization for differences in peak WR ([La-]pl/WR: 23.7 ± 3.1 and 33.9 ± 2.7 µmol · l-1 · W-1 in Acz and Con, respectively; Fig. 6C).

Plasma arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) was similar in Acz and Con at rest and during loadless cycling (Fig. 6D). After Acz treatment, plasma PaCO2 increased (P < 0.05) above resting values during light-intensity exercise (>= 50 W) and remained elevated throughout exercise to exhaustion (Fig. 6D). During Con, plasma PaCO2 remained at resting values throughout light- to moderate-intensity exercise and decreased (P < 0.05) below resting values during heavier-intensity exercise (>= 275 W; Fig. 6D). Plasma PaCO2 was higher (P < 0.05) in Acz during submaximal exercise (>= 150 W) and at exhaustion (42 ± 1 and 34 ± 2 Torr in Acz and Con, respectively; Fig. 6D). The PETCO2-PaCO2 difference decreased (P < 0.05), i.e., became more negative, in Acz during submaximal exercise and at exhaustion (-11 ± 1 Torr; Fig. 5C). In Con, the PETCO2-PaCO2 difference increased (P < 0.05) transiently during submaximal exercise (7 ± 1 Torr at 250 W) but returned to near-zero values at exhaustion (1 ± 2 Torr; Fig. 5C).

VET and LaT. The VET, determined by ventilatory and gas exchange responses, occurred at a similar VO2 during Acz and Con (2.483 ± 0.086 and 2.362 ± 0.110 mmol/l, respectively; Fig. 7). The VO2 corresponding to the LaT was higher (P < 0.05) in Acz than in Con (2.738 ± 0.223 vs. 2.190 ± 0.235 l/min). During Acz, the VO2 corresponding to LaT was higher (P < 0.05) than that corresponding to the VET (for either Acz or Con); during Con a similar VO2 was observed for the LaT and the VET (for both Con and Acz) (Fig. 7).


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Fig. 7.   Relationship between VET (A) and lactate threshold (LaT, B) in Con plotted with results after acute Acz-induced CA inhibition. Individual subject (open circle ) and group mean () data corresponding to VO2 at VET and LaT are plotted. For VET plot, individual responses and group mean fall close to line of identity (dashed line); individual responses and group mean lie above line of identity in LaT plot.


    DISCUSSION
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

Acz-induced CA inhibition was associated with a lower [La-]pl during moderate-to-heavy submaximal and maximal exercise, a similar VET, and a higher LaT than in Con. In addition, peak VCO2 and the slope of the VCO2-VO2 relationship below and above the VET were reduced in Acz. There was also a reduction in peak exercise performance (i.e., reduction in peak WR) and a lower VO2 peak, which was appropriate for the lower peak WR.

Effect of CA inhibition on CO2 equilibrium. A limitation of the present study is the inability to determine with certainty the location (i.e., extracellular and intracellular CA in the lungs, muscle, and erythrocytes) and/or the specific isozyme(s) of CA that may have been inhibited by the dose of Acz administered. However, at the dose given in this study (10 mg/kg), we estimate that, for an 80-kg human (~16 liters of extracellular fluid), the extracellular fluid Acz concentration would be ~225 µmol/l, which would result in a plasma Acz concentration severalfold higher than required to inhibit >99.95% of the total erythrocyte CA activity (23).

Several observations from this study suggest that, at least, the erythrocyte CA isozymes, CA I and CA II, were effectively inhibited by the dose of Acz administered. In addition to a lower peak VCO2, CA inhibition resulted in a lower VCO2 during submaximal exercise at intensities >100 W. Furthermore, the slope of the VCO2-VO2 relationship for exercise below and above the VET was lower in Acz, indicating that VCO2 was impaired by CA inhibition during the non-steady-state condition. CA inhibition results in a disequilibrium between CO2 species, such that the rate of CO2 formation from plasma and erythrocyte HCO-3 is slowed and does not reach equilibrium during the relatively short transit time through the pulmonary capillaries. The incomplete equilibration of CO2 species in the pulmonary capillaries results in a progressive increase in PaCO2 as equilibrium is approached. The negative PETCO2-PaCO2 difference in Acz demonstrates the dissociation between the instantaneous measure of PaCO2 in the pulmonary capillaries (i.e., PETCO2) and the PCO2 of equilibrated plasma. These findings are consistent with the physiological responses reported in a previous study in which Swenson and Maren (22) calculated, using a dose similar to that used in the present study, that CA I and CA II were ~93.3 and 99.3% inhibited, respectively.

Effect of CA inhibition on VET and LaT. The excess CO2 produced by the buffering of HLa and the subsequent increase in arterial [H+] are generally held as the underlying stimuli invoking the nonlinear increases in VE and VCO2 relative to VO2 that typically occur during incremental exercise. We hypothesized that since CA is involved in the removal of CO2 produced by aerobic metabolism and from the buffering of HLa, the VET and LaT would occur at a higher VO2 during Acz-induced CA inhibition than in the uninhibited condition. In contrast to our hypothesis, the VET occurred at a similar VO2 in Acz and Con, but the LaT occurred at a higher VO2 in Acz than in Con. These results are supported by studies that have utilized various experimental interventions, including caffeine ingestion (2), beta -blockade (6), glycogen depletion (7), and exercise training (5, 14), which have demonstrated a dissociation between the temporal occurrence of the VET and LaT. In these studies the mechanism underlying the VET response when the LaT was shifted to a higher VO2 has not been reconciled.

Acute CA inhibition was associated with a lower [La-]pl during moderate-to-heavy submaximal exercise and at exhaustion. Consequently, the LaT-VO2 relationship was shifted to the right in Acz compared with Con studies. This finding is in partial agreement with a previous study that reported a delayed plasma La- appearance during ramp exercise at the heavier exercise intensities but did not demonstrate a difference in the LaT-VO2 relationship with Acz administration (8). The reason(s) for the discrepancy is not readily apparent. However, the different results may be associated with the lower dose of Acz administered (3.5 mg/kg) or the method of determining the LaT (8). The lower [La-]pl observed at exhaustion in Acz was related to the lower peak WR and to a process related to La- appearance in and/or disappearance from the plasma, since the [La-]pl normalized for WR ([La-]pl/WR) was still lower in Acz than in Con. The effect of acute CA inhibition on muscle La- production is not known. During chronic Acz administration, however, muscle [La-] was unaffected (12) or reduced (15) compared with control conditions. In the present study the appearance of nonmetabolically produced CO2, indicated by the break point between S1 and S2, occurred at the same VO2 in both conditions and is consistent with a similar production of La- in the muscle. The lower [La-]pl suggests that La- appearance in plasma is delayed or La- uptake into other tissues is enhanced during Acz.

In a previous study, Kowalchuk et al. (9) demonstrated that a lower arterial [La-] in Acz during recovery from 30 s of high-intensity exercise was associated with a lower arterial-venous [La-] difference across the inactive forearm muscle, suggesting that La- uptake was reduced, not enhanced, after the Acz treatment. However, an enhanced uptake of La- by other tissues, such as inactive and active muscle groups, the heart, brain, liver, and erythrocytes (for review see Ref. 21), after Acz administration cannot be ruled out; such an enhanced uptake of La- would also contribute to a lower [La-]pl.

Effect of CA inhibition on VCO2. It is generally held that CA inhibition does not affect the elimination of CO2 at rest or during the steady state of moderate- or heavy-intensity exercise (13, 22) but that the evolution of CO2 during maximal exercise may be impaired (9, 10, 20). In the present study, Acz administration was associated with a lower VCO2 during moderate-to-heavy submaximal exercise and at maximal exercise. Although the peak WR was lower in Acz, the VCO2/WR was also lower at exhaustion in Acz. In addition, the slope of the VCO2-VO2 relationship was lower below (S1) and above (S2) the VET in Acz than in Con. These data demonstrate that CO2 elimination is not only impaired during maximal exercise but is also reduced during light- to moderate-intensity exercise during non-steady-state conditions, in agreement with slower VCO2 kinetics observed at the onset of moderate-intensity constant-load exercise (17).

Although disequilibrium of CO2 in the pulmonary circulation may explain in part the lower VCO2 in Acz in the present study, removal of CO2 from the active muscle may also be impaired by CA inhibition. A membrane-bound CA isozyme, CA IV, has been localized on the sarcolemma and on the endothelial layer of skeletal muscle capillaries of humans, with the activity directed toward the intravascular space (19). This CA isozyme facilitates the uptake of CO2 by the blood as it passes through the skeletal muscle capillaries. Inhibition of this CA isozyme may prevent the rapid equilibration of CO2 between muscle, plasma, and erythrocytes, resulting in a higher extracellular PCO2 and a decrease in the intracellular-extracellular PCO2 gradient. Thus inhibition of CA at the level of the tissue capillaries and/or at the level of the lungs may contribute to the lower VCO2-VO2 relationship found even at the light WRs.

Maximal exercise performance. Acz administration was associated with a reduction in peak WR and a decrease in VO2 peak, although the VO2 achieved was appropriate for the WR. Kowalchuk et al. (9) reported a reduction in VO2 peak at a similar peak and average power output during 30 s of maximal-intensity cycling exercise after acute Acz administration. Previous studies utilizing long-term Acz administration have shown a lower (18) or an unchanged (20, 22) peak WR and/or VO2 peak, which was attributed to an Acz-induced metabolic acidosis that accompanies chronic Acz treatment. When CA is completely inhibited, the generation of H+ from the hydration of CO2 is slowed, thereby limiting the rate of O2 off-loading (i.e., Bohr effect) (11). Although we cannot conclude from the present study whether the reduction in VO2 peak is due to a limited Bohr effect, results from a previous study (16) suggest that CA inhibition does not alter VO2 during moderate- or heavy (~80% VO2 peak)-intensity exercise.

In the present study, exercise was initiated 30 min after Acz was administered, thereby minimizing any change in acid-base status before the onset of exercise. Plasma acid-base status was similar before the onset of exercise and at exhaustion; however, a small, but significant, acidosis was observed at all submaximal exercise intensities. The difference in plasma [H+] between Acz and Con conditions during submaximal exercise was only ~2.0 nmol/l and, therefore, is unlikely to be of physiological significance or contribute to the early fatigue in Acz.

Summary. The results of the present study demonstrate that Acz administered acutely resulted in lower submaximal and peak VCO2 and VCO2-VO2 slope below and above the VET, suggesting that the facilitated removal of CO2 is impaired, despite the relatively short duration between Acz administration and the onset of exercise. Although the VET was unchanged with Acz, the LaT-VO2 relationship was shifted to the right, demonstrating a dissociation between the VET and the LaT. The occurrence of the VET at the same VO2 during Acz and Con may indicate that muscle La- production was similar between conditions and that La- efflux from the muscle was impaired and/or La- uptake by other tissues was enhanced with CA inhibition, resulting in a lower [La-]pl in Acz. It was unlikely that the reduction in peak exercise performance was associated with changes in extracellular acid-base status but, rather, may be related to an intracellular acidosis consequent to CO2 retention within the muscle during CA inhibition.


    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the participants who took part in the study. The technical support of Brad Hansen was greatly appreciated.


    FOOTNOTES

Financial support was provided by an operating grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. B. W. Scheuermann was supported by a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council Graduate Fellowship.

This research was carried out at The Centre for Activity and Ageing (affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology and the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Western Ontario and The Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph's Health Centre).

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 and other correspondence: J. M. Kowalchuk, School of Kinesiology, 3M Centre, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7 (E-mail: jkowalch{at}julian.uwo.ca).

Received 19 June 1998; accepted in final form 14 October 1999.


    REFERENCES
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
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J APPL PHYSIOL 88(2):713-721
8570-7587/00 $5.00 Copyright © 2000 the American Physiological Society



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