R. Boushel et al., Parasympathetic neural activity accounts for the lowering of exercise heart rate at high altitude, CIRCULATION, 104(15), 2001, pp. 1785-1791
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Background-In chronic hypoxia, both heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (Q)
are reduced during exercise. The role of parasympathetic neural activity in
lowering HR is unresolved, and its influence on Q and oxygen transport at
high altitude has never been studied.
Methods and Results-HR, Q, oxygen uptake, mean arterial pressure, and leg b
lood flow were determined at rest and during cycle exercise with and withou
t vagal blockade with glycopyrrolate in 7 healthy lowlanders after 9 weeks'
residence at greater than or equal to 5260 m (ALT). At ALT, glycopyrrolate
increased resting HR by 80 bpm (73 +/-4 to 153 +/-4 bpm) compared with 53
bpm (61 +/-3 to 114 +/-6 bpm) at sea level (SL). During exercise at ALT, gl
ycopyrrolate increased HR by approximate to 40 bpm both at submaximal (127
+/-4 to 170 +/-3 bpm; 118 W) and maximal (141 +/-6 to 180 +/-2 bpm) exercis
e, whereas at SL, the increase was only by 16 bpm (137 +/-6 to 153 +/-4 bpm
) at 118 W. with no effect at maximal exercise (181 +/-2 bpm). Despite rest
oration of maximal IIR to SL values, glycopyrrolate had no influence on Q,
which was reduced at ALT. Breathing FIO2=0.55 at peak exercise restored Q a
nd power output to SL values.
Conclusions-Enhanced parasympathetic neural activity accounts for the lower
ing of HR during exercise at ALT without influencing Q. The abrupt restorat
ion of peak exercise Q in chronic hypoxia to maximal SL values when arteria
l PO2 and SO2 are similarly increased suggests hypoxia-mediated attenuation
of Q.