Effects of hypoxia on catecholamine and cardiorespiratory responses in exercising dogs

The sympathoadrenal contribution to cardiorespiratory response elicited by hypoxia and/or exercise was assessed in the dog. The increased plasma norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels which follow hypoxia (fraction of inspired O2 equals 0.12) while epinephrine (E) remained unchanged ruled out the possibility of a primacy of the adrenal medulla in the response to hypoxia. In contrast to the lack of effect of hypoxic exposure, the adrenal medulla was substantially stimulated during exercise. The exercise-induced sympathoadrenal response remained unchanged during hypoxia as compared to normoxia when expressed as function of relative work intensity. Nevertheless at a given oxygen uptake, all plasma catecholamines were increased by hypoxia. These modifications in hormonal milieu failed, however, to alter the cardiac responses to exercise but were associated with a change in breathing pattern.