Cardiovascular responses to muscle ischemia in man--dependency on muscle mass

We sought to determine whether the pressor response to exercise-induced muscle ischemia is related to the mass of tissue rendered ischemic. Six men repeatedly exercised for 5 min at a fixed load between 75 and 150 W (bicycle ergometer). Thirty seconds before the end of exercise, circulation to one calf, two calves, one leg, and two legs was arrested with pneumatic cuffs in successive tests with 15-min recovery periods interspersed. Each occlusion was maintained until the 3rd min of exercise recovery. During postexercise occlusion we observed 1) mean arterial pressure (MAP) was elevated in proportion to the mass of ischemic muscle, 2) forearm blood flow (FBF) was elevated during the overlap of occlusion with exercise but did not show a uniform response during the following 3 min of occlusion--either vasoconstriction or vasodilation occurred, 3) heart rate (HR) was elevated only when two legs were occluded, and 4) occlusion did not affect ventilation or endtidal CO2. We conclude that the ischemic pressor response is muscle mass-dependent. Our findings suggest that the baroreflex alters peripheral vascular resistance so as to aid in the maintenance of elevated MAP.