The cerebrovascular response to incremental aerobic exercise is comparable between males and females. Whether this response can be found in moderately-trained athletes remains unknown. We aimed to examine the effect… Click to show full abstract
The cerebrovascular response to incremental aerobic exercise is comparable between males and females. Whether this response can be found in moderately-trained athletes remains unknown. We aimed to examine the effect of sex on the cerebrovascular response to incremental aerobic exercise until volitional exhaustion in this population. Twenty-two moderately-trained athletes (11 M/11 F; age: 25 ± 5 vs. 26 ± 6 years, p=0.6478; peak oxygen consumption: 55.8± 5.2 vs. 48.3 ± 4 mL/kg/min; p=0.0011; training volume: 532 ± 173 vs. 466 ±151 min/week, p=0.3554) performed a maximal ergocycle exercise test. Systemic and cerebrovascular hemodynamics were measured. At rest, middle cerebral artery mean blood velocity (MCAvmean; 64.1 ± 12.7 vs. 72.2 ± 15.3 cm.s-1; p=0.2713) was not different between groups, while partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2, 42 ± 3 vs. 37 ± 2 mmHg, p=0.0002) was higher in males. During the MCAvmean ascending phase, changes in MCAvmean (intensity: p<0.0001, sex: p=0.3184, interaction: p=0.9567) were not different between groups. Changes in cardiac output (Q) (intensity: p<0.0001, sex: p<0.0001, interaction: p<0.0001) and PETCO2 (intensity: p<0.0001, sex: p<0.0001, interaction: p<0.0001) were higher in males. During the MCAvmean descending phase, changes in MCAvmean (intensity: p<0.0001, sex: p=0.5522, interaction: p= 0.4828) and Q (intensity: p= 0.0504, sex: p= 0.0003, interaction: p= 0.2715) were not different between groups. Changes in PETCO2 (intensity p<0.0001, sex: p<0.0001, interaction: p= 0.0280) were higher in males. These results suggest the MCAvmean response during exercise is comparable between moderately-trained males and females notwithstanding differences in the response of key CBF determinants.
               
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