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Contribution of nitric oxide to the blood pressure and arterial responses to exercise in humans

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 04:12 authored by Campbell, R, Fisher, JP, James SharmanJames Sharman, McDonnell, BJ, Frenneaux, MP
An exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise predicts future cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms underlying exercise-induced hypertension remain unclear, although endothelial dysfunction and elevated arterial stiffness may contribute. Given the association between reductions in nitric oxide (NO) and vascular dysfunction, we sought to determine whether acute inhibition of NO synthase with NG-monomethyl-Larginine (L-NMMA) would lead to exaggerated BP responses to maximal exercise and attenuate exerciseinduced reductions in arterial stiffness. In 10 healthy subjects (31±5 years), BP and heart rate (HR) were measured before, during and after an incremental cycling exercise test to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Trials were performed with placebo (saline) or intravenous infusion of L-NMMA on separate days in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Central (aortic) and peripheral (femoral) arterial stiffness were assessed using pulse wave velocity (PWV). BP was increased with L-NMMA at rest and during sub-maximal exercise, but not at maximal exercise (mean BP 117±5 vs 118±8mmHg, saline vs L-NMMA, P40.05). Furthermore, L-NMMA had no influence on exercising HR or VO2max (P>0.05). Notably, aortic PWV was similarly increased after exercise with either saline or L-NMMA (P<0.05), whereas postexercise decreases in femoral PWV were attenuated with L-NMMA (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that NO is an important contributor to reductions in femoral artery stiffness after maximal exercise in healthy individuals. Furthermore, acute pharmacological inhibition of NO synthase causes augmented BP responses to sub-maximal exercise, but does not lead to exaggerated BP responses to maximal exercise or reduce maximal oxygen consumption.

History

Publication title

Journal of Human Hypertension

Volume

25

Pagination

262-270

ISSN

0950-9240

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Place of publication

Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan St, London, England, N1 9Xw

Rights statement

Copyright © 2010 Nature Publishing Group

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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