Resting and post exercise arterial-ventricular coupling in endurance-trained men and women

The relationship between effective arterial elastance (E A) and left ventricular end-systolic elastance (E LV) is a determinant of cardiac performance, known as arterial-ventricular coupling (AVC). The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of high-intensity interval (HI) and low-intensity steady state (SS) exercise on AVC. Twenty-three (13 men, 10 women) young (26 years), endurance-trained individuals completed a VO 2 peak test followed by an acute SS and HI exercise bout on separate visits. Before (Pre) and 30- and 60-min after each bout, measures of aortic end-systolic pressure (ESP), left ventricular end-systolic volume and stroke volume were obtained. Across both conditions (HI and SS) and both sexes, at 30 and 60 min post exercise, ESP and E LV were reduced from Pre 30 and 60-min exercise (ESP: 86±7, 77±8 and 73±8 mm Hg; E LV: 4.93±1.53, 4.19±1.38 and 4.10±1.53 mm Hg ml -1 m -2). E A was only reduced at 60 min post exercise (1.90±0.36, 1.78±0.50 and 1.57±0.36). Both E A and E LV were reduced following acute SS and HI exercise. This is likely because of similar reductions in total peripheral resistance following both exercise bouts. These results suggest that endurance-trained individuals are able to match peripheral vascular changes with changes in left ventricular function following dynamic exercise of different intensities.