Decreased compliance in the deep and superficial conduit veins of the upper arm during prolonged cycling exercise.

We examined whether there is a difference in compliance between the deep and superficial conduit veins of the upper arm in response to prolonged exercise. Eight young men performed cycling exercise at 60% of peak oxygen uptake until rectal temperature had been increased by 1.1°C for 38-48 min. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the brachial (deep) and basilic (superficial) veins was assessed by ultrasound during a cuff deflation protocol. Compliance (CPL) was calculated as the numerical derivative of the cuff pressure and CSA curve. During prolonged exercise, CPL in both conduit veins was similarly decreased when compared with pre-exercise values; however, the CSA decreased in the deep vein but increased in the superficial vein. In addition, passive heating caused an analogous change in CSA and CPL of superficial vein when compared with prolonged exercise, but did not change CSA and CPL of deep vein. Cold pressor test induced the decreased CSA of deep and superficial veins without the alteration of CPL of both veins. These results suggest that CPL in the deep and superficial conduit veins adjusts to prolonged exercise via different mechanisms.

Heterogeneous Regulation of Brain Blood Flow during Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise.

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to explore to what extent low-intensity resistance exercise-induced acute hypertension influences intracranial cerebral perfusion. METHODS: Twelve healthy participants performed one-legged static knee extension exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction for 2 min. Blood flow to the internal and external carotid arteries (ICA/ECA) were evaluated by duplex ultrasonography. RESULTS: ICA blood flow increased and reached a plateau before stabilizing 60 s into exercise despite continued increases in cardiac output and arterial blood pressure. ICA conductance significantly decreased by -14.4% ±13.8% at the end of exercise (P < 0.01), whereas in contrast, ECA blood flow (P < 0.01) and conductance were shown to increase (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings demonstrate that low-intensity resistance exercise was associated with vasodilation of the ECA that was accompanied by vasoconstriction of the ICA. We propose that the heterogeneity and reciprocal regulation of intracranial cerebral blood flow reflect an adaptive neuroprotective mechanism that serves to protect the brain and associated vasculature against the structural damage associated with resistance exercise-induced hypertension.

Heat stress redistributes blood flow in arteries of the brain during dynamic exercise.

We hypothesized that heat stress would decrease anterior and posterior cerebral blood flow (CBF) during exercise, and the reduction in anterior CBF would be partly associated with large increase in extracranial blood flow (BF). Nine subjects performed 40 min of semirecumbent cycling at 60% of the peak oxygen uptake in hot (35°C; Heat) and thermoneutral environments (25°C; Control). We evaluated BF and conductance (COND) in the external carotid artery (ECA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and vertebral artery (VA) using ultrasonography. During the Heat condition, ICA and VA BF were significantly increased 10 min after the start of exercise (P < 0.05) and thereafter gradually decreased. ICA COND was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas VA COND remained unchanged throughout Heat. Compared with the Control, either BF or COND of ICA and VA at the end of Heat tended to be lower, but not significantly. In contrast, ECA BF and COND at the end of Heat were both higher than levels in the Control condition (P < 0.01). During Heat, a reduction in ICA BF appears to be associated with a decline in end-tidal CO2 tension (r = 0.84), whereas VA BF appears to be affected by a change in cardiac output (r = 0.87). In addition, a change in ECA BF during Heat was negatively correlated with a change in ICA BF (r = -0.75). Heat stress resulted in modification of the vascular response of head and brain arteries to exercise, which resulted in an alteration in the distribution of cardiac output. Moreover, a hyperthermia-induced increase in extracranial BF might compromise anterior CBF during exercise with heat stress.

Anatomical vertebral artery hypoplasia and insufficiency impairs dynamic blood flow regulation.

Recent studies have suggested that vertebral artery (VA) hypoplasia is a predisposing factor for posterior cerebral stroke. We examined whether anatomical vertebrobasilar ischemia, i.e., unilateral VA hypoplasia and insufficiency, impairs dynamic blood flow regulation. Twenty-eight female subjects were divided into three groups by defined criteria: (i) unilateral VA hypoplasia (n = 8), (ii) VA insufficiency (n = 6), and (iii) control (n = 14). Hypoplastic VA criterion was VA blood flow of 40 ml min(-1) , whereas VA insufficiency criterion was net (left + right) VA blood flow of 100 ml min(-1) or less. We evaluated left, right, and net VA blood flows by ultrasonography during hypercapnia, normocapnia, and hypocapnia to evaluate VA CO2 reactivity. The unilateral VA hypoplasia group showed lower CO2 reactivity at hypoplastic VA than at non-hypoplastic VA (2.65 ± 0.58 versus 3.00 ± 0.48% per mmHg, P = 0.027) and net VA CO2 reactivity was preserved (Unilateral VA hypoplasia, 2.95 ± 0.48 versus Control, 2.93 ± 0.42% per mmHg, P = 0.992). However, the VA insufficiency group showed a lower net VA CO2 reactivity compared to the control (2.29 ± 0.55 versus 2.93 ± 0.42% per mmHg, P = 0.032) and the unilateral VA hypoplasia (P = 0.046). VA hypoplasia reduced CO2 reactivity, although non-hypoplastic VA may compensate this regulatory limitation. In subjects with VA insufficiency, lowered CO2 reactivity at the both VA could not preserve normal net VA CO2 reactivity. These findings provide a possible physiological mechanism for the increased risk of posterior cerebral stroke in subjects with VA hypoplasia and insufficiency.