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Sympathetic vasoconstriction in active skeletal muscles during dynamic exercise

J B Buckwalter1, P J Mueller, P S Clifford

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. jbuckwal@post.its.mcw.edu

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|January 7, 1998
PubMed
Summary

This study investigated sympathetic vasoconstriction in working muscles during exercise. Intra-arterial blockade revealed active sympathetic vasoconstriction in skeletal muscles, even at high exercise intensities.

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Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Function

Background:

  • Previous studies using systemic alpha-adrenergic antagonists failed to confirm sympathetic vasoconstriction in active muscles during exercise.
  • The role of sympathetic nervous system in regulating blood flow to working skeletal muscles remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the existence of active sympathetic vasoconstriction in working skeletal muscles.
  • To differentiate local and central sympathetic control of muscle blood flow during dynamic exercise.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized selective intra-arterial blockade of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors with prazosin in chronically instrumented mongrel dogs.
  • Measured iliac artery blood flow and conductance during treadmill exercise at varying intensities.
  • Monitored systemic blood pressure and contralateral iliac blood flow to assess regional effects.

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Main Results:

  • Infusion of prazosin resulted in immediate increases in iliac conductance at mild (76%), moderate (54%), and heavy (22%) workloads.
  • Systemic blood pressure and blood flow in the non-infused limb remained unaffected.
  • Demonstrated a significant reduction in vasoconstriction with increasing exercise intensity.

Conclusions:

  • Active sympathetic vasoconstriction occurs in working skeletal muscles during dynamic exercise.
  • This vasoconstriction is mediated by alpha 1-adrenergic receptors.
  • The findings challenge previous assumptions and highlight the complex regulation of muscle blood flow during physical activity.