Abstract
This study investigated the effects of fitness and of acute exercise
on a range of markers of endothelial function in young, healthy adult male
subjects who were classified on the basis of maximum oxygen consumptions as
being fit (V˙O2peak 71 ± 2
[ml × min-1] × kg-1)
or sedentary (V˙O2peak 53 ± 2
[ml × min-1]
× kg-1). Fit and sedentary subjects had similar
resting plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and thrombomodulin (TM).
Acute maximal aerobic exercise doubled plasma vWF in fit subjects but had no
effect in the sedentary population; plasma TM rose with acute exercise in each
group but to a greater extent in the fit population. Fit subjects also had
higher numbers of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) at rest and exhibited
substantially greater forearm reactive hyperaemia responses following a
standardized period of arterial occlusion. A cohort of sedentary subjects was
given a 5-week training programme of moderate aerobic exercise on a cycle
ergometer. Following this, absolute fitness was increased by only
8 % but reactive hyperaemia responses rose to values similar to
those in the chronically fit group. The results suggest that both acute and
chronic exercise increase endothelial turnover. Chronic exercise is also
associated with enhanced endothelium-dependent dilator function and this effect
becomes maximal after only a short period of moderate training.
Key words
Endothelial function - vasodilation - thrombomodulin - von Willebrand factor - exercise - training
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S. E. O'Sullivan
Dept. of Physiology · Trinity College Dublin
College Green · Dublin 2 · Ireland ·
Telefon: +3531-6081131
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