Peripheral hypercapnic chemosensitivity at rest and progressive exercise intensities in males and females

Abstract

Unloaded exercise significantly increased the peripheral hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) compared with rest. However, increases in exercise intensity did not further augment peripheral HCVR. Males had a greater peripheral HCVR compared with females, but there was no interaction between sex and intensity. The lack of sex interactions suggests the mechanism augmenting the peripheral HCVR with exercise is independent of sex. The increase in peripheral HCVR with exercise is likely due to central command.