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Cardiac vagal withdrawal and reactivation during repeated rest–exercise transitions

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Abstract

It is not known whether subjects that have higher cardiac vagal reactivation (CVR) during repeated exercise transitions also have higher cardiac vagal withdrawal (CVW) at the onset of exercise, which would lead to better heart rate (HR) regulation during exercise transitions. Therefore, our aims were to investigate: (a) the influence of CVR on CVW during repeated rest–exercise transitions; and (b) the influence of the sympathetic activity on CVR and CVW. Fifty-eight healthy men (22 ± 4 years) performed 20 rest–exercise transitions interspaced by 30 s. In addition, nine healthy men (24 ± 3 years) ingested either 25 mg of atenolol or placebo, on a crossover, double-blind, randomized design, then performed 20 rest–exercise transitions interspaced by 30 s. Cardiac vagal reactivation was assessed by a HR variability index (RMSSD) and CVW by the HR increase at the onset of a valid and reliable cycling protocol. The CVR and CVW responses were associated (partial r ranged from 0.60 to 0.66; p < 0.05). Participants with higher CVR over transitions maintained their CVW over repeated transitions [first transition (mean ± SEM) = 1.59 ± 0.04 vs. 20th = 1.50 ± 0.03 (a.u.), p = 0.24], while participants with lower CVR had a CVW decrease over repeated transitions [first transition (mean ± SEM) = 1.38 ± 0.04 vs. 20th = 1.19 ± 0.03 (a.u.), p < 0.01). In addition, the CVR and CVW over the rest–exercise transitions were similar during atenolol and placebo (ANCOVA interaction p = 0.12 and p = 0.48, respectively). In conclusion, the CVR among repeated rest–exercise transitions influenced the CVW at the onset of exercise, which was not affected by a partial β1 cardioselective adrenoceptor blockade.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all the students and university staff from SUPREMA that collaborated to accomplish the study. Bruno Moreira Silva and Lauro Casqueiro Vianna were supported by scholarships from the National Council of Scientific and Technologic Development, CNPq, Brazil and Dr. Claudio Gil S. Araújo received a grant from CNPq for scientific production

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of Juiz de Fora, SUPREMA, Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Djalma R. Ricardo & Bruno M. Silva

  2. Graduate Program in Physical Education, Gama Filho University (UGF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Bruno M. Silva, Lauro C. Vianna & Claudio Gil S. Araújo

  3. Clinic of Exercise Medicine (CLINIMEX), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Claudio Gil S. Araújo

Authors
  1. Djalma R. Ricardo
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  2. Bruno M. Silva
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  3. Lauro C. Vianna
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  4. Claudio Gil S. Araújo
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Correspondence to Bruno M. Silva.

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Communicated by Dag Linnarsson.

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Ricardo, D.R., Silva, B.M., Vianna, L.C. et al. Cardiac vagal withdrawal and reactivation during repeated rest–exercise transitions. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 933–942 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1555-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1555-y

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