Peripheral Chemoreflex Drive in Moderate-Intensity Exercise
The purpose of this study was to measure the contribution of the peripheral chemoreceptor (pRc) to [Formula: see text] during the steady-state of moderate-intensity cycle ergometer exercise using continuous hyperoxic suppression of pRc drive, while stabilizing the drive from the central chemoreceptor by clamping end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) at the peak level attained during the hyperoxic period of a poikilocapnic ride. In the isocapnic protocol, the PETCO2 was maintained at a constant level by a negative feedback, open loop system. Five subjects completed four repetitions of each of the poikilocapnic and isocapnic protocols. In the poikilocapnic protocol, [Formula: see text] declined following the step into hyperoxia and then began to increase, whereas the decline in [Formula: see text] was maintained in the isocapnic protocol. However, the mean decrease in [Formula: see text] was not significantly different between the poikilocapnic (16.1 ± 5.0%) and isocapnic (14.9 ± 4.4%) protocols. These results suggest that the declining phase of [Formula: see text] is fully complete before the secondary central stimulating actions of hyperoxia on [Formula: see text] and that the pRc contributes about 15% of the drive to breathe in moderate intensity exercise. Key words: ventilatory control, carotid bodies, hyperoxia