Simultaneous determination of the kinetics of cardiac output, systemic O2 delivery, and lung O2 uptake at exercise onset in men

Abstract

We tested whether the kinetics of systemic O2 delivery (Q̇aO2) at exercise start was faster than that of lung O2 uptake (V̇o2), being dictated by that of cardiac output (Q̇), and whether changes in Q̇ would explain the postulated rapid phase of the V̇o2 increase. Simultaneous determinations of beat-by-beat (BBB) Q̇ and Q̇aO2, and breath-by-breath V̇o2 at the onset of constant load exercises at 50 and 100 W were obtained on six men (age 24.2 ± 3.2 years, maximal aerobic power 333 ± 61 W). V̇o2 was determined using Grønlund's algorithm. Q̇ was computed from BBB stroke volume (Qst, from arterial pulse pressure profiles) and heart rate ( fh, electrocardiograpy) and calibrated against a steady-state method. This, along with the time course of hemoglobin concentration and arterial O2 saturation (infrared oximetry) allowed computation of BBB Q̇aO2. The Q̇, Q̇aO2 and V̇o2 kinetics were analyzed with single and double exponential models. fh, Qst, Q̇, and V̇o2 increased upon exercise onset to reach a new steady state. The kinetics of Q̇aO2 had the same time constants as that of Q̇. The latter was twofold faster than that of V̇o2. The V̇o2 kinetics were faster than previously reported for muscle phosphocreatine decrease. Within a two-phase model, because of the Fick equation, the amplitude of phase I Q̇ changes fully explained the phase I of V̇o2 increase. We suggest that in unsteady states, lung V̇o2 is dissociated from muscle O2 consumption. The two components of Q̇ and Q̇aO2 kinetics may reflect vagal withdrawal and sympathetic activation.