Influence of training status and exercise modality on pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics in pre-pubertal girls

The limited available evidence suggests that endurance training does not influence the pulmonary oxygen uptake (V(O)(2)) kinetics of pre-pubertal children. We hypothesised that, in young trained swimmers, training status-related adaptations in the V(O)(2) and heart rate (HR) kinetics would be more evident during upper body (arm cranking) than during leg cycling exercise. Eight swim-trained (T; 11.4 +/- 0.7 years) and eight untrained (UT; 11.5 +/- 0.6 years) girls completed repeated bouts of constant work rate cycling and upper body exercise at 40% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and peak V(O)(2). The phase II V(O)(2) time constant was significantly shorter in the trained girls during upper body exercise (T: 25 +/- 3 vs. UT: 37 +/- 6 s; P < 0.01), but no training status effect was evident in the cycle response (T: 25 +/- 5 vs. UT: 25 +/- 7 s). The V(O)(2) slow component amplitude was not affected by training status or exercise modality. The time constant of the HR response was significantly faster in trained girls during both cycle (T: 31 +/- 11 vs. UT: 47 +/- 9 s; P < 0.01) and upper body (T: 33 +/- 8 vs. UT: 43 +/- 4 s; P < 0.01) exercise. The time constants of the phase II V(O)(2)and HR response were not correlated regardless of training status or exercise modality. This study demonstrates for the first time that swim-training status influences upper body V(O)(2) kinetics in pre-pubertal children, but that cycle ergometry responses are insensitive to such differences

Exercise duration-matched interval and continuous sprint cycling induce similar increases in AMPK phosphorylation, PGC-1α and VEGF mRNA expression in trained individuals

Purpose The effects of low-volume interval and continuous ‘all-out’ cycling, matched for total exercise duration, on mitochondrial and angiogenic cell signalling was investigated in trained individuals. Methods In a repeated measures design, 8 trained males ($\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}$, 57 ± 7 ml kg−1 min−1) performed two cycling exercise protocols; interval (INT, 4 × 30 s maximal sprints interspersed by 4 min passive recovery) or continuous (CON, 2 min continuous maximal sprint). Muscle biopsies were obtained before, immediately after and 3 h post-exercise. Results Total work was 53 % greater (P = 0.01) in INT compared to CON (71.2 ± 7.3 vs. 46.3 ± 2.7 kJ, respectively). Phosphorylation of AMPKThr172 increased by a similar magnitude (P = 0.347) immediately post INT and CON (1.6 ± 0.2 and 1.3 ± 0.3 fold, respectively; P = 0.011), before returning to resting values at 3 h post-exercise. mRNA expression of PGC-1α (7.1 ± 2.1 vs. 5.5 ± 1.8 fold; P = 0.007), VEGF (3.5 ± 1.2 vs. 4.3 ± 1.8 fold; P = 0.02) and HIF-1α (2.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.3 fold; P = 0.04) increased at 3 h post-exercise in response to INT and CON, respectively; the magnitude of which were not different between protocols. Conclusions Despite differences in total work done, low-volume INT and CON ‘all-out’ cycling, matched for exercise duration, provides a similar stimulus for the induction of mitochondrial and angiogenic cell signalling pathways in trained skeletal muscle

The time course of endogenous erythropoietin, IL-6, and TNFα in response to acute hypoxic exposures

Erythropoietin (EPO) rapidly decreases on return to sea level (SL) after chronic altitude exposure. Acute hypoxia may provide an additional stimulus to prevent the decline in EPO. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), have been shown to inhibit EPO production. Optimal normobaric hypoxic exposure has not been established; therefore, investigation of methods eliciting the greatest response in EPO, to limit physiological stress is required. Eight males (age 27±4 yrs, body mass 77.5±9.0 kg, height 179±6 cm) performed four passive exposures to different normobaric hypoxic severities [FiO2:0.209 (SL), FiO2:~0.135 (3,600 m), FiO2:~0.125 (4,200 m) and FiO2:~0.115 (4,800 m)] in a hypoxic chamber for 2 h. Venous blood was drawn pre-exposure and then at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h to determine erythropoietin concentration ([EPO]), IL-6 and TNFα. During 4,200 m and 4,800 m [EPO] increased from 5.9±1.5 to 8.1±1.5 mU/mL (P=0.009) and 6.0±1.4 to 8.9±2.0 mU/mL (P=0.037), respectively, with [EPO] increase peaking at 4h (2h post-exposure). There were no differences in IL-6 or TNFα during, or post-exposure. Increased [EPO] was found 2 h post-hypoxic exposure as result of 2 h of normobaric hypoxia ≥4,200 m. There was no dose-response relationship in [EPO] between simulated hypoxia severities.University of Brighton and the English Institute of Sport

Cinética do consumo de oxigênio e tempo limite na vvo2max: comparação entre homens e mulheres Oxygen uptake kinetics and threshold time at the vVO2max: tomparison between men and women

Foi investigada a influência do gênero no tempo limite (Tlim) e na cinética do VO2 durante corrida na velocidade associada ao VO2max (vVO2max) em nove homens e nove mulheres, todos adultos, jovens e sedentários, com idades entre 20 e 30 anos. Homens e mulheres realizaram dois testes em esteira rolante, sendo um teste incremental para determinar VO2max (42,66 ± 4,50 vs. 32,92 ± 6,03mL.kg-1.min-1) e vVO2max (13.2 ± 1.5 vs. 10,3 ± 2,0km.h-1), respectivamente. Um segundo teste com carga constante na vVO2max até a exaustão. O Tlim e a cinética do VO2 foram determinados. Não houve diferença significante entre homens e mulheres para constante de tempo (&#964;) (35,76 ± 21,03 vs. 36,5 ± 6,21s, respectivamente; P = 0,29); Tlim (308 ± 84,3 vs. 282,11 ± 57,19s, respectivamente; P = 0,68), tempo para atingir o VO2max (TAVO2max) (164,48 ± 96,73 vs. 167,88 ± 28,59s, respectivamente; P = 0,29), tempo para atingir o VO2max em percentual do Tlim (%Tlim) (50,24 ± 16,93 vs. 62,63 ± 16,60%, respectivamente; P = 0,19), tempo mantido no VO2max (TMVO2max) (144,08 ± 42,55 vs. 114,23 ± 76,96s, respectivamente; P = 0,13). Estes resultados sugerem que a cinética do VO2 e o Tlim são similares entre homens e mulheres sedentários na vVO2max.<br>The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of gender on Tthre and VO2 response during running exercise performed at vVO2max. Therefore, eighteen untrained individuals (9 male and 9 female) with normal weight and aged between 20 - 30 years (VO2max = 42.66 ± 4.50 vs 32.92 ± 6.03 mL.kg-1.min-1 and vVO2max = 13.2 ± 1.5 vs 10.3 ± 2.0 km.h-1, for male and female, respectively) were assessed. Subjects performed two exercise tests on treadmill. First one was an incremental test to determine VO2max, velocity at VO2max (vVO2max) and second test was performed at steady velocity - vVO2max - until exhaustion. The threshold time (Tthre) and VO2 kinetics response was determined. No significant differences were observed between men and women for time constant (&#964;) (35.76 ± 21.03 vs 36.5 ± 6.21s, respectively; P = 0.29); Tthre (308 ± 84.3 vs 282.11 ± 57.19s, respectively; P = 0.68), time to achieve VO2max (TAVO2max) (164.48 ± 96.73 vs 167.88 ± 28.59s, respectively; P = 0.29), time to achieve VO2max in Tthre percentage (%Tthre) (50.24 ± 16.93 vs 62.63 ± 16.60%, respectively; P = 0.19); time maintained at VO2max (TMVO2max) (144.08 ± 42.55 vs 114.23 ± 76.96s, respectively; P = 0.13). These results suggest that the VO2 kinetics response and Tthre is similar between untrained men and women at the vVO2max