Int J Sports Med 2005; 26(1/02): 9-15
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-815817
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Blood Rheological Responses to Running and Cycling: A Potential Effect on the Arterial Hypoxemia of Highly Trained Athletes?

O. Galy1 , O. Hue1 , A. Boussana2 , C. Peyreigne3 , J. Mercier3 , C. Préfaut3
  • 1UPRES EA 3596, Laboratoire ACTES, UFR-STAPS Antilles-Guyane, Pointe à Pitre, France
  • 2UPRES EA 2991, Laboratoire Sport, Performance, Santé, UFR-STAPS, Montpellier, France
  • 3UPRES EA 701 “Laboratoire de Physiologie des Interactions”, Service Central de Physiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: November 20, 2003

Publication Date:
26 July 2004 (online)

Abstract

To investigate 1) the blood rheological responses to high training volume and 2) the potential effect of these responses on arterial hypoxemia induced during submaximal running and cycling, 10 triathletes performed an incremental cycle test, 20 minutes of running (R), and 20 minutes of cycling (C). All trials were performed at nearly 75 % of V·O2max. Hematocrit (H), blood viscosity (ηb), plasma viscosity (ηpl), index of erythrocyte rigidity (Tk), changes in plasma volume (ΔPV), pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLco), and arteriolized blood gas (PaO2) were measured before and after each trial. Pulse oxymetry (SpO2) and cardioventilatory data were collected continuously. A significant increase in ηb, ηpl, and H was noted after R and C with respect to pre-exercise, whereas ΔPV decreased, with a greater decrease after C. Tk was significantly higher after R than after C. A significantly greater drop in DLco was noted after C compared with R. SpO2 decreased significantly more during R, as did PaO2. We conclude that blood rheological responses are specific to running and cycling. Cycling induced a sharp decrease in plasma volume, which could partially explain the greater DLco alteration. Running was characterized by an increase in Tk, which could be implicated in the severity of the drop in arterial oxygenation observed.

References

  • 1 Aillaud M F, Poisson C, Buonocore M, Billerey M, Lefevre P, Juhan-Vague I. Etude du viscosimètre médical à chute de bille.  Le Pharmacien Biologiste. 1985;  159 291-294
  • 2 Beaver W L, Wasserman K, Whipp B J. A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange.  J Appl Physiol. 1986;  60 2020-2027
  • 3 Betticher D, Reinhart W, Geiser J. Effect of RBC shape and deformability on pulmonary O2 diffusing capacity and resistance to flow in rabbit lungs.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 778-783
  • 4 Bonnen G E, Baker S K, Hatta H. Lactate transport and lactate transporters in skeletal muscle.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1997;  22 531-552
  • 5 Brun J F, Micallef J F, Orsetti A. Hemorheologic effects of light prolonged exercise.  Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 1994;  14 807-818
  • 6 Brun J F, Khaled S, Raynaud E, Bouix D, Micallef J F, Orsetti A. Triphasic effects of exercise on blood rheology which relevance to physiology and pathophysiology?.  Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 1998;  19 89-104
  • 7 Bshouty Z, Younes M. Effect of breathing pattern and level of ventilation on pulmonary fluid filtration in dog lung.  Am J Respir Physiol. 1992;  145 372-376
  • 8 Caillaud C, Connes P, Bouix D, Mercier J. Does haemorrheology explain the paradox of hypoxemia during exercise in elite athletes or thoroughbred horses?.  Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2002;  26 175-181
  • 9 Carre F, Durand F, Beillot J, Le Goff M C, Genetet B, Rochcongar P, Delamaire M. Altérations hémathologiques et hémorhéologiques secondaires à la pratique d'un exercice d'intensité maximale et spécifique de la spécialité sportive. Etude chez des sportifs de haut-niveau d'entraînement. Bidet JM, Boudart D, Delamaire M, Durand F Hémorhéologie et Facteurs de Risque. Proceeding of a Symposium Held in Rennes. 1990: 78-79
  • 10 Connes P, Bouix D, Kippelen P, Préfaut C, Caillaud C. Blood viscosity in athletes with exercise-induced hypoxemia.  Pflüg Arch. 2001;  442 86
  • 11 Convertino V, Keil L, Bernauer E, Greenleaf J. Plasma volume, osmolality, vasopressin and renin activity during graded exercise in man.  J Appl Physiol. 1981;  50 123-128
  • 12 Cotes J E. Lung Function: Assessment and Application in Medicine. 4th ed. Oxford; Blackwell Scientific Publications 1979: 203-329
  • 13 Davidson R J, Robertson J D, Maughan R J. Haematological changes due to triathlon competition.  Br J Sports Med. 1986;  20 159-161
  • 14 Dempsey J A, Hanson P, Hendersen K. Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia in healthy human subjects at sea level.  J Appl Physiol. 1984;  355 161-175
  • 15 Dintenfass L. Red cell rigidity, “TK”, and filtration.  Clin Hemorheol. 1985;  5 241-244
  • 16 Doyle M P, Galey W R, Walker B R. Reduced erythrocyte deformability alters pulmonary hemodynamics.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  67 2593-2599
  • 17 Durand F, Mucci P, Préfaut C. Evidence for an inadequate hyperventilation inducing arterial hypoxemia at submaximal exercise in all highly trained endurance athletes.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;  32 926-932
  • 18 Fons C, Brun J F, Supparo I, Mallard C, Bardet C, Orsetti A. Evaluation of blood viscosity at high shear rate with a falling ball viscometer.  Clin Hemorheol. 1993;  13 651-659
  • 19 Galy O, Hue O, Le Gallais D, Peyreigne C, Boussana A, Libicz S, Préfaut C. Is exercise-induced desaturation activity-dependent?.  Pflügers Arch. 2001;  442 93
  • 20 Galy O, Hue O, Boussana A, Le Gallais D, Préfaut C. Cardiorespiratory responses and blood lactate during an experimental run-cycle transition in duathletes.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 162-167
  • 21 Gueguen-Duchesne M, Durand F, Beillot J, Dezier J F, Rochcongar P, Le Goff M C, Pommereuil M, Genetet B. Could maximal exercise be a hemorheological risk factor?.  Clin Hemorheol. 1987;  7 418
  • 22 Guezennec C Y, Nadaud J F, Satabin P, Léger C, Laffargue P. Influence of poly-insatured fatty acid diet on the hemorheological response to physical exercise in hypoxia.  Int J Sports Med. 1989;  10 286-291
  • 23 Hue O, Le Gallais D, Chollet D, Boussana A, Préfaut C. Ventilatory responses during experimental cycle-run transition in triathletes.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  10 1422-1428
  • 24 Hue O, Le Gallais D, Chollet D, Préfaut C. Ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake in present triathletes.  Can J Appl Physiol. 2000;  25 102-113
  • 25 Hue O, Le Gallais D, Boussana A, Chollet D, Préfaut C. Performance level and cardiopulmonary responses during a cycle-run trial.  Int J Sports Med. 2000;  21 250-255
  • 26 Hue O, Le Gallais D, Préfaut C. Specific pulmonary responses during the cycle-run succession in triathletes.  Scan J Med Sports Med. 2001;  11 355-361
  • 27 Kinderman W, Simon M, Keul J. The significance of the aerobic-anaerobic transition for the determination of work load intensities during endurance training.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1979;  42 25-34
  • 28 Martin B, Powers S, Cicale M, Collop N, Huang D, Criswell D. Validity of pulse oxymetry during exercise in elite endurance athletes.  J Appl Physiol. 1992;  72 455-458
  • 29 Martins J, e Silva D. Blood rheological adaptation to physical exercise.  Rev Port Hemorreol. 1988;  2 63-67
  • 30 McNaughon L M. Plasma volume responses associated with a sprint triathlon in novice triathletes.  Int J Sports Med. 1989;  3 161-164
  • 31 Miles D, Doerr E C, Schonfeld A S, Sinks E D, Gotshall W. Changes in pulmonary diffusing capacity and closing volume after running a marathon.  Respir Physiol. 1983;  52 349-359
  • 32 Nihill M R, McNamara D G, Vick R L. The effects of increased blood viscosity on pulmonary vascular resistance.  Am Heart J. 1976;  92 65-72
  • 33 Préfaut C, Durand F, Mucci P, Caillaud C. Exercise-induced hypoxemia in athletes: a review.  Sport Med. 2000;  30 47-61
  • 34 Senay L CJR, Rogers G, Jooste P. Changes in blood plasma during progressive treadmill and cycle exercise.  J Appl Physiol: Respirat Environ Exerc Physiol. 1987;  49 59-65
  • 35 Teillet T, Pilardeau P, Libercier P, Vaysse J, Hermant J L. Variation des protéines plasmatiques pendant un exercice de courte durée.  Sci Sports. 1991;  6 173-178
  • 36 Tong S, Nasrawi F, Marletta F, Fanari P, Agosti R, Longhini R. Hemorheology during exercise: is there a microcirculatory relationship?.  Biorheology. 1995;  32 400
  • 37 Wells L C, Stern J R, Kohrt W M, Campbell K D. Fluid shifts with successive running and bicycling performance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1987;  19 137-142
  • 38 Wood S C, Doyle M P, Appenzeller O. Effects of endurance training and long distance running on blood viscosity.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 1265-1269
  • 39 Yang R F, Zhao C J, Wu Y P, Wu X. Deformability of erythrocytes after exercises.  Biorheology. 1995;  32 250

O. Galy

BP 1287 Noumea

98845 Nouvelle-Calédonie

France

Phone: + 330468439401

Fax: + 33 04 68 43 94 01

Email: galy.o@wanadoo.fr