Hyperoxia enhances metaboreflex sensitivity during static exercise in humans

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (1) ◽  
pp. H210-H215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Houssière ◽  
Boutaina Najem ◽  
Nicolas Cuylits ◽  
Sophie Cuypers ◽  
Robert Naeije ◽  
...  

Peripheral chemoreflex inhibition with hyperoxia decreases sympathetic nerve traffic to muscle circulation [muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA)]. Hyperoxia also decreases lactate production during exercise. However, hyperoxia markedly increases the activation of sensory endings in skeletal muscle in animal studies. We tested the hypothesis that hyperoxia increases the MSNA and mean blood pressure (MBP) responses to isometric exercise. The effects of breathing 21% and 100% oxygen at rest and during isometric handgrip at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction on MSNA, heart rate (HR), MBP, blood lactate (BL), and arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) were determined in 12 healthy men. The isometric handgrips were followed by 3 min of postexercise circulatory arrest (PE-CA) to allow metaboreflex activation in the absence of other reflex mechanisms. Hyperoxia lowered resting MSNA, HR, MBP, and BL but increased SaO2 compared with normoxia (all P < 0.05). MSNA and MBP increased more when exercise was performed in hyperoxia than in normoxia (MSNA: hyperoxic exercise, 255 ± 100% vs. normoxic exercise, 211 ± 80%, P = 0.04; and MBP: hyperoxic exercise, 33 ± 9 mmHg vs. normoxic exercise, 26 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.03). During PE-CA, MSNA and MBP remained elevated (both P < 0.05) and to a larger extent during hyperoxia than normoxia ( P < 0.05). Hyperoxia enhances the sympathetic and blood pressure (BP) reactivity to metaboreflex activation. This is due to an increase in metaboreflex sensitivity by hyperoxia that overrules the sympathoinhibitory and BP lowering effects of chemoreflex inhibition. This occurs despite a reduced lactic acid production.

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 1039-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. K. Somers ◽  
K. C. Leo ◽  
R. Shields ◽  
M. Clary ◽  
A. L. Mark

Recent evidence indicates that muscle ischemia and activation of the muscle chemoreflex are the principal stimuli to sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) during isometric exercise. We postulated that physical training would decrease muscle chemoreflex stimulation during isometric exercise and thereby attenuate the SNA response to exercise. We investigated the effects of 6 wk of unilateral handgrip endurance training on the responses to isometric handgrip (IHG: 33% of maximal voluntary contraction maintained for 2 min). In eight normal subjects the right arm underwent exercise training and the left arm sham training. We measured muscle SNA (peroneal nerve), heart rate, and blood pressure during IHG before vs. after endurance training (right arm) and sham training (left arm). Maximum work to fatigue (an index of training efficacy) was increased by 1,146% in the endurance-trained arm and by only 40% in the sham-trained arm. During isometric exercise of the right arm, SNA increased by 111 +/- 27% (SE) before training and by only 38 +/- 9% after training (P less than 0.05). Endurance training did not significantly affect the heart rate and blood pressure responses to IHG. We also measured the SNA response to 2 min of forearm ischemia after IHG in five subjects. Endurance training also attenuated the SNA response to postexercise forearm ischemia (P = 0.057). Sham training did not significantly affect the SNA responses to IHG or forearm ischemia. We conclude that endurance training decreases muscle chemoreflex stimulation during isometric exercise and thereby attenuates the sympathetic nerve response to IHG.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (5) ◽  
pp. H1653-H1658 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ettinger ◽  
K. Gray ◽  
S. Whisler ◽  
L. Sinoway

Lactic acid is thought to be a stimulant of muscle metaboreceptors. The goal of the present study was to determine if inhibition of lactic acid production by dichloroacetate (DCA) would attenuate muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during static forearm exercise. DCA increases pyruvate dehydrogenase levels. Thus, for a given amount of pyruvate produced, less lactic acid is formed. Seven subjects performed static forearm exercise at 20% maximal voluntary contraction until fatigue followed by posthandgrip circulatory arrest (PHG-CA) (trial.1). Subjects then received DCA (35 mg/kg) and repeated the exercise protocol (trial 2). We observed an attenuated rise in forearm venous lactate and MSNA. The trial 2 MSNA value during PHG-CA was 51 +/- 11% less than the value during trial 1 (P less than 0.01). In seven control subjects, two bouts of static forearm exercise were performed with an intervening saline infusion. This intervention had no effect on lactate or MSNA responses to exercise. We conclude that DCA attenuates lactate responses to static exercise, and this is associated with a blunted MSNA response.


1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 2472-2478 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Seals

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in efferent muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) to the lower leg and calf vascular resistance (CVR) during isometric exercise in humans. We made intraneural (microneurographic) determinations of MSNA in the right leg (peroneal nerve) while simultaneously measuring calf blood flow to the left leg, arterial pressure, and heart rate in 10 subjects before (control), during, and after (recovery) isometric handgrip exercise performed for 2.5 min at 15, 25, and 35% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Heart rate and arterial pressure increased above control within the initial 30 s of handgrip at all levels, and the magnitudes of the increases at end contraction were proportional to the intensity of the exercise. In general, neither MSNA nor CVR increased significantly above control levels during handgrip at 15% MVC. Similarly, neither variable increased above control during the initial 30 s of handgrip at 25 and 35% MVC; however, during the remainder of the contraction period, progressive, parallel increases were observed in MSNA and CVR (P less than 0.05). The correlation coefficients relating changes in MSNA to changes in CVR for the individual subjects averaged 0.63 +/- 0.07 (SE) (range 0.30–0.91) and 0.94 +/- 0.06 (range 0.80–0.99) for the 25 and 35% MVC levels, respectively. During recovery, both MSNA and CVR returned rapidly toward control levels. These findings demonstrate that muscle sympathetic nerve discharge and vascular resistance in the lower leg are tightly coupled during and after isometric arm exercise in humans. Furthermore, the exercise-induced adjustments in the two variables are both contraction intensity and time dependent.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (1) ◽  
pp. H79-H83 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Ray ◽  
N. H. Secher ◽  
A. L. Mark

To evaluate modulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during posthandgrip muscle ischemia (PHGMI), subjects performed 2 min of isometric handgrip at 33% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by 2 min of PHGMI produced by forearm vascular occlusion. The response to PHGMI was studied in the absence and again during the addition of contralateral rhythmic handgrip (RHG; 40 times/min) at 15% (n = 6) and 30% (n = 10) MVC during the second minute of the PHGMI. Additionally, to isolate the effect of central command, response to PHGMI was studied during attempted RHG after sensory nerve blockade (n = 5). RHG for 2 min at 15 and 30% MVC and attempted RHG for 2 min did not increase MSNA. Isometric handgrip elicited an 130 +/- 48% increase in MSNA (P < 0.05), which was maintained during PHGMI. RHG at 15 and 30% MVC elicited an attenuation of MSNA (-10 +/- 7% and -14 +/- 6%, respectively) when performed during the second minute of PHGMI (P < 0.05). In contrast, attempted RHG did not significantly affect MSNA during PHGMI. The findings demonstrate modulation of MSNA during activation of the muscle metaboreflex. The attenuation of metaboreceptor-mediated increases in MSNA appear to be the result of mechanosensitive muscle afferents and not central command.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jody L Greaney ◽  
Evan L Matthews ◽  
Paul J Fadel ◽  
William B Farquhar ◽  
Megan M Wenner

Understanding the neural circulatory responses to exercise in postmenopausal women (PMW) is important given their greater risk for developing hypertension. During exercise, blood pressure is controlled, in part, by the exercise pressor reflex, which is a feedback mechanism originating in skeletal muscle and compromised of mechanically and metabolically sensitive afferents. A recent study reported an enhanced blood pressure response during exercise in normotensive PMW due to greater muscle metaboreflex activation, but the mechanism(s) underlying these responses are unknown. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that metaboreflex activation elicits exaggerated sympathetic nervous system responses in PMW compared to young women, contributing to the enhanced blood pressure response during exercise. Methods: Blood pressure (BP, Finometer) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, peroneal microneurography) were continuously measured in 7 PMW (age 59±2 years; BMI 24±1 kg/m 2 ) and 7 young women (age 23±2 years; BMI 22±2 kg/m 2 ) during 2-minutes of isometric handgrip exercise performed at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction followed by 3-minutes of forearm ischemia (post-exercise ischemia, PEI) to isolate muscle metaboreflex activation. Results: Resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) was similar between PMW (85±3 mmHg) and young women (82±2 mmHg; P>0.05). During exercise, the increase in MAP was greater in PMW (Δ18±2mmHg) compared to young women (Δ 12±2 mmHg; P<0.05), and this was maintained during PEI (Δ13±1 mmHg PMW vs. Δ 6±1 mmHg young women; P<0.05). Resting MSNA was higher in PMW (24±4 bursts/min) compared to young women (9±3 bursts/min; P<0.05). Interestingly, the increase in MSNA during exercise was comparable between groups (P>0.05), whereas during PEI, the increase in MSNA was approximately 50% greater in PMW compared to young women (Δ13±2 burst/min PMW vs. 7±2 bursts/min young women; P<0.05). Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that compared to young women, PMW exhibit an exaggerated MSNA response to isolated muscle metaboreflex activation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. H1419-H1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Ichinose ◽  
Mitsuru Saito ◽  
Narihiko Kondo ◽  
Takeshi Nishiyasu

We investigated the time-dependent modulation of arterial baroreflex (ABR) control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) that occurs during isometric handgrip exercise (IHG). Thirteen healthy subjects performed a 3-min IHG at 30% maximal voluntary contraction, which was followed by a period of imposed postexercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). The ABR control of MSNA (burst incidence and strength and total activity) was evaluated by analyzing the relationship between spontaneous variations in diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and MSNA during supine rest, at each minute of IHG, and during PEMI. We found that 1) the linear relations between DAP and MSNA variables were shifted progressively rightward until the third minute of IHG (IHG3); 2) 2 min into IHG (IHG2), the DAP-MSNA relations were shifted upward and were shifted further upward at IHG3; 3) the sensitivity of the ABR control of total MSNA was increased at IHG2 and increased further at IHG3; and 4) during PEMI, the ABR operating pressure was slightly higher than at IHG2, and the sensitivity of the control of total MSNA was the same as at IHG2. During PEMI, the DAP-burst strength and DAP-total MSNA relations were shifted downward from the IHG3 level to the IHG2 level, whereas the DAP-burst incidence relation remained at the IHG3 level. These results indicate that during IHG, ABR control of MSNA is modulated in a time-dependent manner. We suggest that this modulation of ABR function is one of the mechanisms underlying the progressive increase in blood pressure and MSNA during the course of isometric exercise.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (4) ◽  
pp. H1724-H1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Houssiere ◽  
Boutaina Najem ◽  
Agniezka Ciarka ◽  
Sonia Velez-Roa ◽  
Robert Naeije ◽  
...  

To investigate the effects of muscle metaboreceptor activation during hypoxic static exercise, we recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), heart rate, blood pressure, ventilation, and blood lactate in 13 healthy subjects (22 ± 2 yr) during 3 min of three randomized interventions: isocapnic hypoxia (10% O2) (chemoreflex activation), isometric handgrip exercise in normoxia (metaboreflex activation), and isometric handgrip exercise during isocapnic hypoxia (concomitant metaboreflex and chemoreflex activation). Each intervention was followed by a forearm circulatory arrest to allow persistent metaboreflex activation in the absence of exercise and chemoreflex activation. Handgrip increased blood pressure, MSNA, heart rate, ventilation, and lactate (all P < 0.001). Hypoxia without handgrip increased MSNA, heart rate, and ventilation (all P < 0.001), but it did not change blood pressure and lactate. Handgrip enhanced blood pressure, heart rate, MSNA, and ventilation responses to hypoxia (all P < 0.05). During circulatory arrest after handgrip in hypoxia, heart rate returned promptly to baseline values, whereas ventilation decreased but remained elevated ( P < 0.05). In contrast, MSNA, blood pressure, and lactate returned to baseline values during circulatory arrest after hypoxia without exercise but remained markedly increased after handgrip in hypoxia ( P < 0.05). We conclude that metaboreceptors and chemoreceptors exert differential effects on the cardiorespiratory and sympathetic responses during exercise in hypoxia.


1996 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Ettinger ◽  
D. H. Silber ◽  
B. G. Collins ◽  
K. S. Gray ◽  
G. Sutliff ◽  
...  

We compared reflex responses to static handgrip at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in 26 untrained men (mean age 35 +/- 3 yr) and 23 untrained women (mean age 39 +/- 4 yr). Women demonstrated attenuated increases in blood pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; by microneurography) compared with men. This difference was also observed during a period of posthandgrip circulatory arrest. 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy studies demonstrated attenuations in the production of diprotonated phosphate and the development of cellular acidosis in women compared with men. Subjects also performed ischemic handgrip to fatigue. During this paradigm, MSNA responses were similar in the two groups, suggesting that freely perfused conditions are necessary for the full expression of the gender effect. Finally, we examined MSNA responses to adductor pollicus exercise in 7 men (26 +/- 1 yr) and 6 women (25 +/- 2 yr). MVC values and times to fatigue were similar in the two groups (MVC: men, 4.3 +/- 0.4 kg; women, 4.0 +/- 0.3 kg; not significant. Time to fatigue: men, 209 +/- 16 s; women, 287 +/- 50 s; not significant). At periods of end exercise and postexercise circulatory arrest, MSNA responses were attenuated in the women compared with the men. We conclude that, during nonischemic static exercise, sympathetic neural outflow is less in women compared with men. This response is due to an attenuated metaboreflex in women. Finally, on the basis of the adductor pollicus experiments, this effect appears independent of muscle mass, workload, and the level of training.


2002 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 1764-1769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason R. Carter ◽  
Charity L. Sauder ◽  
Chester A. Ray

There are conflicting reports for the role of endogenous opioids on sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to exercise in humans. A number of studies have utilized naloxone (an opioid-receptor antagonist) to investigate the effect of opioids during exercise. In the present study, we examined the effect of morphine (an opioid-receptor agonist) on sympathetic and cardiovascular responses at rest and during isometric handgrip (IHG). Eleven subjects performed 2 min of IHG (30% maximum) followed by 2 min of postexercise muscle ischemia (PEMI) before and after systemic infusion of morphine (0.075 mg/kg loading dose + 1 mg/h maintenance) or placebo (saline) in double-blinded experiments on separate days. Morphine increased resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; 17 ± 2 to 22 ± 2 bursts/min; P < 0.01) and increased mean arterial pressure (MAP; 87 ± 2 to 91 ± 2 mmHg; P < 0.02), but it decreased heart rate (HR; 61 ± 4 to 59 ± 3; P < 0.01). However, IHG elicited similar increases for MSNA, MAP, and HR between the control and morphine trial (drug × exercise interaction = not significant). Moreover, responses to PEMI were not different. Placebo had no effect on resting, IHG, and PEMI responses. We conclude that morphine modulates cardiovascular and sympathetic responses at rest but not during isometric exercise.


1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1719-1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chester A. Ray ◽  
Kathryn H. Gracey

Ray, Chester A., and Kathryn H. Gracey. Augmentation of exercise-induced muscle sympathetic nerve activity during muscle heating. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(6): 1719–1725, 1997.—The muscle metabo- and mechanoreflexes have been shown to increase muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during exercise. Group III and IV muscle afferents, which are believed to mediate this response, have been shown to be thermosensitive in animals. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of muscle temperature on MSNA responses during exercise. Eleven subjects performed ischemic isometric handgrip at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction to fatigue, followed by 2 min of postexercise muscle ischemia (PEMI), with and without local heating of the forearm. Local heating of the forearm increased forearm muscle temperature from 34.4 ± 0.2 to 38.9 ± 0.3°C ( P = 0.001). Diastolic and mean arterial pressures were augmented during exercise in the heat. MSNA responses were greater during ischemic handgrip with local heating compared with control (no heating) after the first 30 s. MSNA responses at fatigue were greater during local heating. MSNA increased by 16 ± 2 and 20 ± 2 bursts per 30 s for control and heating, respectively ( P = 0.03). When expressed as a percent change in total activity (total burst amplitude), MSNA increased 531 ± 159 and 941 ± 237% for control and heating, respectively ( P = 0.001). However, MSNA was not different during PEMI between trials. This finding suggests that the augmentation of MSNA during exercise with heat was due to the stimulation of mechanically sensitive muscle afferents. These results suggest that heat sensitizes skeletal muscle afferents during muscle contraction in humans and may play a role in the regulation of MSNA during exercise.


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