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Changes in blood flow in conduit artery and veins of the upper arm during leg exercise in humans

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Abstract

This study investigated changes in blood flow in the conduit artery, superficial vein, and deep vein of the upper arm during increase in internal temperature due to leg cycling. Additionally, we sought to demonstrate the contributions of blood velocity and vessel diameter on blood flow responses. Fourteen subjects performed supine cycling exercise at 60–69% maximal oxygen uptake for 30 min at an ambient temperature of 28°C and relative humidity of 50%. Blood velocity and diameter in the brachial artery, basilic vein (superficial vein), and brachial vein (deep vein) were measured using ultrasound Doppler, and blood flow was calculated. Blood flow in the artery and superficial vein increased linearly with rising oesophageal temperature (ΔT oes) after ΔT oes was about 0.3°C (within threshold), as well as cutaneous vascular conductance on the forearm. Changes in blood velocity in these vessels were similar to those in blood flow. Conversely, the brachial artery and superficial vein diameter did not affect the blood flow response. Blood flow variables in the deep vein did not change remarkably with rising ΔT oes. These results suggest that blood flow response, by an increase in velocity, in the conduit artery with rising ΔT oes during exercise is similar to that in the superficial vein, but not deep vein. Also, it is indicated that these increases in blood flow relate to the increase in skin blood flow on the forearm with the rise in body temperature during exercise.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our volunteer subjects for participating in this study. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (#19300221) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Applied Human Physiology, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

    Anna Ooue & Narihiko Kondo

  2. Osaka International University, Osaka, 570-8555, Japan

    Tomoko K. Ichinose & Yoshimitsu Inoue

  3. University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8574, Japan

    Takeshi Nishiyasu

  4. Kobe Design University, Kobe, 651-2196, Japan

    Shunsaku Koga

Authors
  1. Anna Ooue
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  2. Tomoko K. Ichinose
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  3. Yoshimitsu Inoue
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  4. Takeshi Nishiyasu
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  5. Shunsaku Koga
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  6. Narihiko Kondo
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Correspondence to Narihiko Kondo.

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Ooue, A., Ichinose, T.K., Inoue, Y. et al. Changes in blood flow in conduit artery and veins of the upper arm during leg exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 103, 367–373 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0706-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0706-x

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