Influence of exercise on maximal voluntary ventilation and forced expiratory flow at depth

Four to six subjects performed maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) and forced expirations during rest, exercise (50, 125, and 200 W), and inhalation of air and CO2 and air at rest while submerged at pressures of 1.45, 2.82, 4.64, and 6.76 atm. Maximal expiratory flow (at 40% of vital capacity) and MVV at rest decreased as exponential functions of gas density, but the decrease was less than in some earlier studies. Independent of pressure, MVV increased by about 10%-17% at the heavier work loads and expiratory flow increased by 27%-48%; the increase in expiratory flow disappeared within 2 min after exercise. Exercise increased end-tidal CO2 tension by up to 9 mmHg. Carbon dioxide inhalation increasing the end-tidal level by up to about 25 mmHg during rest had no effect on MVV and a slight to moderate effect on flow, increasing it by a maximum of 21% at 4.64 atm. The enhancing effect of exercise on MVV and expiratory flow at depth apparently was mainly due to modified autonomic nervous activity reducing pulmonary flow resistance, CO2 accumulation playing an uncertain role, and passive distension of airways playing no role.