[Hemodynamics, plasma catecholamine behavior and beta-adrenergic receptor density in trained and untrained subjects...

Swan-Ganz semifloating balloon-tipped catheters were introduced in 6 endurance-trained subjects, 7 untrained volunteers, 29 patients suffering from coronary heart disease, 8 patients with right heart insufficiency induced by chronic obstructive syndromes, and 8 patients with idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy. All subjects except the patients with resting cardiac insufficiency performed graded ergometric tests during the catheter investigation. Hemodynamic values, plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline (in all subjects), and beta-adrenergic receptor density on intact polymorphonuclear leucocytes (in 6 endurance-trained subjects, 5 untrained healthy volunteers, and 6 patients with left heart insufficiency) were determined. For all subjects investigated, significant correlations were observed between resting plasma catecholamine levels and resting hemodynamic values, such as stroke volume (r = 0.47, p less than 0.001), cardiac output (r = 0.32, p less than 0.05), heart rate (r = 0.37, p less than 0.01), pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.52, p less than 0.001), and total vascular resistance (r = 0.40, p less than 0.01). An inverse relationship existed between the resting catecholamine levels and the performance ability. Catecholamine levels were approximately three- to fourfold higher and the beta-adrenergic receptor density approximately two- to threefold lower in patients with left heart insufficiency than in healthy untrained subjects. The plasma catecholamine levels were lower and the beta-adrenergic receptor density approximately 60% greater in trained subjects. The beta-adrenergic receptor density may be a critical dynamic parameter for the modulation of sympathetic effects.