Fibrinolytic markers and vasodilatory capacity following acute exercise among men of differing training status

We evaluated the effect of differing physical activity patterns on fibrinolysis and vasodilatory capacity using a cross-sectional design with 16 endurance-trained (ET) (mean+/-SE) (28+/-6 years), 14 resistance-trained (RT) (28+/-7 years), and 10 untrained (UT) (26+/-7 years) men. t-PA and PAI-1 activity and t-PA antigen were measured before and after a maximal treadmill test (VO2peak). Vasodilatory capacity was assessed using strain-gauge plethysmography on the forearm following reactive hyperemia (RH) before and after the treadmill test. The ET group had a smaller body mass index (BMI) (22.8+/-0.5 ET, 26.4+/-0.4 RT, 25.1+/-0.8 UT kg m(-2)) (P<0.05) and a greater VO2peak (57+/-1 ET, 42+/-2 RT, 45+/-2 UT mL min(-1) kg(-1)) (P<0.05). Peak vasodilatory capacity (29.7+/-2 ET, 32.0+/-2 RT, 27.4+/-2 UT mL min(-1) 100 mL of tissue) was similar between groups before and after exercise. Area under the curve for forearm blood flow was greater following acute exercise (212 vs. 122, P<0.05), again with no differences between groups. t-PA activity and antigen increased following maximal exercise in all groups (P<0.0001), with no group differences. PAI-1 activity decreased the least in RT after exercise (70% decrease vs. 86% ET and 82% UT; P<0.05). The change in t-PA activity with exercise was not related to exercise-induced change in overall vasodilatory capacity. These findings demonstrate that in healthy young men different physical activity patterns do not appear to impact the exercise-induced changes in fibrinolysis or vasodilatory capacity.