Resting and post exercise arterial-ventricular coupling in endurance-trained men and women

The relationship between effective arterial elastance (EA) and left ventricular end-systolic elastance (ELV) is a determinant of cardiac performance, known as arterial-ventricular coupling (AVC). The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of high-intensity interval (HI) and low-intensity steady state (SS) exercise on AVC. Twenty-three (13 men, 10 women) young (26 years), endurance-trained individuals completed a VO2 peak test followed by an acute SS and HI exercise bout on separate visits. Before (Pre) and 30- and 60-min after each bout, measures of aortic end-systolic pressure (ESP), left ventricular end-systolic volume and stroke volume were obtained. Across both conditions (HI and SS) and both sexes, at 30 and 60 min post exercise, ESP and ELV were reduced from Pre 30 and 60-min exercise (ESP: 86±7, 77±8 and 73±8 mm Hg; ELV: 4.93±1.53, 4.19±1.38 and 4.10±1.53 mm Hg ml(-1) m(-2)). EA was only reduced at 60 min post exercise (1.90±0.36, 1.78±0.50 and 1.57±0.36). Both EA and ELV were reduced following acute SS and HI exercise. This is likely because of similar reductions in total peripheral resistance following both exercise bouts. These results suggest that endurance-trained individuals are able to match peripheral vascular changes with changes in left ventricular function following dynamic exercise of different intensities.