Exercise Hyperpnea

Susan A. Ward

Susan A. Ward

University of Leeds, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leeds, United Kingdom

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First published: 14 April 2006

Abstract

Control schemes of ventilation equation image during moderate exercise [i.e., below the lactate threshold (θL)] have classically incorporated both proportional humoral feedback (carotid and central chemoreflex) and neurogenic feed forward (central command, muscle, cardiocirculatory) to provide stability of arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) pH (pHa), and PO2 (PaO2). In response to a step work-rate (WR) forcing from prior rest in the upright posture, equation image increases abruptly for some 15–20 s, this being followed by a subsequent more-prominent exponential component (consistent with first-order kinetics). The lack of any sustained error signals in the mean levels of PaCO2, pHa, or PaO2, coupled with the dynamic matching of equation image with pulmonary CO2 output equation image but not O2 uptake or WR, suggests that the controller operates as if it incorporates an errorless humoral feedback element proportional to equation image (or some close proxy). In addition, the equation image controller seems to evidence considerable redundancy, with particular sensory deficits having little effect on the steady-state equation image response to exercise or the stability of PaCO2 between rest and exercise. Above θL, equation image kinetics become markedly nonlinear, with steady states being either delayed or not attained, which reflects the influence of the developing metabolic acidemia (1) indirectly, via bicarbonate-mediated body CO2 stores washout, which augments equation image; and (2) directly, to effect respiratory compensation for the falling pHa (this being constrained by the falling PaCO2 that results from equation image increasing out of proportion to equation image). The carotid bodies are important in mediating this respiratory compensation, although with surprisingly slow kinetics, In conclusion, despite there now being general agreement regarding the overall characteristics of the equation image response to exercise, the precise details of the control process(es) remain unresolved.

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