Related Experiment Videos
Possible gender differences in the effect of exercise on hypoxic ventilatory response.
J G Regensteiner1, C K Pickett, R E McCullough
1Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratory, University of Colorado, Denver.
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Women exhibit lower sensitivity to metabolic rate changes during mild exercise compared to men. While both sexes show similar responses to moderate exercise, women maintain higher resting ventilation and a blunted hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) during mild exertion.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Gender Differences in Physiology
Background:
- Gender disparities exist in resting ventilation and hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR).
- In men, ventilation and HVR correlate with metabolic rate changes.
- The relationship between metabolic rate and ventilation/HVR in women remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-based differences in the influence of exercise-induced metabolic rate increases on ventilation, HVR, and hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR).
Main Methods:
- 13 men and 12 women participated in the study.
- Ventilation, HVR, and HCVR were measured at rest and during varying intensities of exercise.
- Metabolic rate was assessed via oxygen consumption (O2 consumption) measurements.
Main Results:
- Women displayed higher minute ventilation per metabolic rate at rest and during mild exercise.
- HVR increased in men but not in women with mild exercise-induced O2 consumption increases.
- Both sexes showed increased HVR with moderate exercise, and equal increases in HCVR.
Conclusions:
- Women demonstrate reduced sensitivity to mild metabolic rate stimulation compared to men.
- This is evidenced by higher resting ventilation and a diminished HVR change during mild exercise in women.
- Sex-specific ventilatory control mechanisms may be influenced by metabolic rate.