Exercise training does/does not induce vascular adaptations beyond the active muscle beds

Poole, D.C. et al. (2008) Exercise training does/does not induce vascular adaptations beyond the active muscle beds. Journal of Applied Physiology, 105(3), pp. 1008-1010. (doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.zdg-8158.pcpcomm.2008)

Abstract

The question whether exercise induces adaptations in nonactive muscle arteries (1, 5) cannot be answered by a simple yes or no. We believe that the effect in nonactive muscle beds is best viewed as a balance with the individual's exercise tolerance, lipid and glucose status, and blood pressure on the one side, and exercise intensity and degree of improvement of lipid, glucose, and blood pressure status on the other side. A low-intensity exercise program in healthy subjects, by abovementioned measures, may therefore induce little or no improvement in endothelial function, whereas a high-intensity program might (3). In contrast, in situations of reduced cardiovascular and metabolic health, such as heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, exercise may readily improve endothelial function in all vascular beds. This has been suggested by both brachial artery plethysmography and imaging, and organ bath experiments of the left internal mammary artery (2, 6). Further support for exercise-induced adaptation in nonactive arteries stems from studies of treadmill-exercised rodents, which improve carotid artery endothelium-dependent nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasorelaxation (4). Supposedly, the carotid artery does not supply exercising muscles. Intracellularly, improved endothelial function has been linked to higher activities of endothelial NO synthase and Akt (2), suggesting the cell may sense shear stress even in nonactive regions. Thus clinical and experimental evidence suggest that the artery is in a state of continuum, in which the susceptibility for changes depends more on the state of the artery and on exercise intensity, rather than the location.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kemi, Dr Ole
• Authors: Poole, D.C., Behnke, B.J., Musch, T.I., Sandri, M., Gielen, S., Kemi, O.J., Rognmo, O., Wisloff, U., Haram, P.M., Bender, S.B., Laughlin, M.H., Kagaya, A., Yoshizawa, M., Maeda, S., and Tanaka, H.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physiology
• ISSN: 8750-7587
• ISSN (Online): 1522-1601