RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMAL PULMONARY VENTILATION DURING EXHAUSTIVE EXERCISE AND POSTEXERCISE PLASMA POTASSIUM CONCENTRATION IN MAN

The present study was undertaken to examine the relationship between m aximal Pulmonary ventilation (VE(max)) and potassium concentration ([K +]) or lactate concentration ([La]) of venous blood in man. Nine healt hy men performed exercise on a bicycle ergometer at a constant rate of 60 rpm until volitional fatigue. VE(max) ranged from 100.4 to 153.2 l /min. In all subjects, potassium concentration measured at 1 min ([K+] 1.0) after maximal exhaustive exercise was the highest, and it returne d quickly to the resting level within a few minutes during recovery. V E(max) was significantly correlated (r=0.750, p<0.05) to [K+]1.0, but not to lactate concentration determined at 1 min ([La]1.0) during reco very. These results suggest that a higher increase in blood K+] may, a t least partly, contribute to a greater augmentation of VE during exha ustive exercise.