Peripheral vasoconstriction shortly after onset of moderate exercise in humans

The immediate cardiovascular responses at the onset of supine dynamic leg exercise were studied by noninvasive methods in healthy humans. Total peripheral conductance (TPC), heart rate, and cardiac output increased very rapidly at the onset of exercise. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) showed a moderate anticipatory increase during a 10-s countdown to exercise and then decreased (but not below resting level) during the first 10 s of exercise. The TPC response was biphasic, and TPC started to fall from its peak value approximately 12 s after onset of exercise. This peripheral vasoconstriction increased MAP. After 25 s, the cardiovascular variables were stable for the rest of the 2-min exercise period. In the same subjects, cholinergic blockade was induced by atropine sulfate (0.035 mg/kg) and resting cardiac output, MAP, and TPC increased considerably. The exercise protocol was repeated after atropine, and the increase in heart rate at onset of exercise was slower and smaller. MAP decreased and remained depressed throughout the exercise period. A monophasic increase in TPC was seen. We suggest that, in the normal situation, the biphasic response in TPC reflects a baroreflex sympathetic vasoconstriction very shortly after onset of exercise and that this response is due to a rapid increase in set point for arterial pressure control at the onset of exercise. After cholinergic blockade, MAP was probably continuously well above the set point for arterial pressure control both before and during exercise and no reflex vasoconstriction was observed in this situation.