Effect of Acute Hypoxia on Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Maximal Performance during Leg and Upper-Body Exercise in Nordic Combined Skiers

Abstract

We examined the effect of normobaric hypoxia (3200 m) on maximal oxygen uptake (V·O_2max) and maximal power output (P_max) during leg and upper-body exercise to identify functional and structural correlates of the variability in the decrement of V·O_2max (ΔV·O_2max) and of maximal power output (ΔP_max). Seven well trained male Nordic combined skiers performed incremental exercise tests to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer (leg exercise) and on a custom built doublepoling ergometer for cross-country skiing (upper-body exercise). Tests were carried out in normoxia (560 m) and normobaric hypoxia (3200 m); biopsies were taken from m. deltoideus. ΔV·O_2max was not significantly different between leg (- 9.1 ± 4.9 %) and upper-body exercise (- 7.9 ± 5.8 %). By contrast, P_max was significantly more reduced during leg exercise (- 17.3 ± 3.3 %) than during upper-body exercise (- 9.6 ± 6.4 %, p < 0.05). Correlation analysis did not reveal any significant relationship between leg and upper-body exercise neither for ΔV·O_2max nor for ΔP_max. Furthermore, no relationship was observed between individual ΔV·O_2max and ΔP_max. Analysis of structural data of m. deltoideus revealed a significant correlation between capillary density and ΔP_max (R = - 0.80, p = 0.03), as well as between volume density of mitochondria and ΔP_max (R = - 0.75, p = 0.05). In conclusion, it seems that V·O_2max and P_max are differently affected by hypoxia. The ability to tolerate hypoxia is a characteristic of the individual depending in part on the exercise mode. We present evidence that athletes with a high capillarity and a high muscular oxidative capacity are more sensitive to hypoxia.

Hypoxia - exercise testing - V·O_2max - maximal power - muscle morphology

References

• 1 Angermann M, Hoppeler H, Däpp C, Wittwer M, Vogt M. Effekte eines intermittierenden Höhentrainings auf die langlaufspezifische Oberkörperleistungsfähigkeit bei Nordisch Kombinierten.  Leistungssport. 2004;  3 35-41
• 2 Angermann M, Lehmann C, Hoppeler H, Däpp C, Vogt M. Oberkörperergometrie: Spezifische Leistungsdiagnostik für Langläufer und Nordisch Kombinierer.  Schweiz Z Sportmed Sporttraumatol. 2003;  51 168-173
• 3 Billat V L, Lepretre P M, Heubert R P, Koralsztein J P, Gazeau F P. Influence of acute moderate hypoxia on time to exhaustion at vVO_2max in unacclimatized runner.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 9-14
• 4 Brooke M H, Kaiser K. The “myosin adenosine triphosphatase” systems: the nature of their pH liability and sulfhydryl dependence.  J Histochem Cytochem. 1970;  18 670-672
• 5 Chapman R F, Emery M, Stager J M. Degree of arterial desaturation in normoxia influences V·O_2max decline in mild hypoxia.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 658-663
• 6 Di Prampero P E. Factors limiting maximal performance in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  90 420-429
• 7 Ferretti G, Moia C, Thomet J M, Kayser B. The decrease of maximal oxygen consumption during hypoxia in man: a mirror image of the oxygen equilibrium curve.  J Physiol. 1997;  498 231-237
• 8 Gavin T P, Derchak P A, Stager J M. Ventilation's role in the decline in V·O_2max and S_aO₂ in acute hypoxic exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 195-199
• 9 Gore C J, Hahn A G, Scroop G C, Watson D B, Norton K I, Wood R J, Campell D P, Emonson D L. Increased arterial desaturation in trained cyclists during maximal exercise at 580 m altitude.  J Appl Physiol. 1996;  80 2204-2210
• 10 Gore C J, Little S C, Hahn A G, Scroop G C, Norton K I, Bourdon P C, Woolford S M, Buckley J D, Stanef T, Cambell D P, Watson D B, Emonson D I. Reduced performance of male and female athletes at 580 m altitude.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997;  75 136-143
• 11 Harms C A, Wetter T J, McClaran S R, Pegelow D F, Nickele G A, Nelson W B, Hanson P, Dempsey J A. Effects of respiratory muscle work on cardiac output and its distribution during maximal exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  85 609-618
• 12 Hoppeler H, Vogt M. Muscle tissue adaptions to hypoxia.  J Exp Biol. 2001;  204 3133-3139
• 13 Kayser B. Exercise starts and ends in the brain.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  90 411-419
• 14 Koistinen P, Takal T, Martikkala V, Leppäluoto J. Aerobic fitness influences the response of maximal oxygen uptake and lactate threshold in acute hypobaric hypoxia.  Int J Sports Med. 1995;  26 78-81
• 15 Lawler J, Powers S K, Thompson D. Linear relationship between V·O_2max and V·O_2max decrement during exposure to acute hypoxia.  J Appl Physiol. 1988;  64 1486-1492
• 16 Levine B D, Stray-Gundersen J. “Living high-training low”: effect of moderate altitude acclimatization with low-altitude training on performance.  J Appl Physiol. 1997;  83 102-112
• 17 Martin D, O'Kroy J. Effects of acute hypoxia on the V·O_2max of trained and untrained subjects.  J Sports Sci. 1993;  11 37-42
• 18 Noakes T D, Peltonen J E, Rusko H K. Evidence that a central governor regulates exercise performance during acute hypoxia and hyperoxia.  J Exp Biol. 2001;  204 3225-3234
• 19 Oelz O, Howald H, Di Prampero P E, Hoppeler H, Claassen H, Jenni R, Buehlmann A, Ferretti G, Brueckner J C, Veicsteinas A, Gussoni M, Cerretelli P. Physiological profile of world-class high-altitude climbers.  J Appl Physiol. 1986;  60 (5) 1734-1742
• 20 Peltonen J E, Rantamäki J, Niittymäki P T, Sweins K, Viitasalo J T, Rusko H K. Effects of oxygen fraction in inspired air on rowing performance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 573-579
• 21 Peltonen J E, Tikannen H O, Rusko H K. Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in acute hypoxia, hyperoxia, and normoxia.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  85 82-88
• 22 Robergs R A, Quintana R, Parker D L, Frankel C C. Multiple variables explain the variability in the decrement in V·O_2max during acute hypobaric hypoxia.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 869-879
• 23 Roberts A D, Daley P J, Martin D T, Hahn A, Gore C J, Spence R. Sea level V·O_2max fails to predict V·O_2max and performance at 1800 m altitude.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 S111
• 24 Shepard R J, Bouhlel E, Vandewalle H, Monod H. Muscle mass as a factor limiting physical exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1988;  64 1472-1479
• 25 Ventura N, Hoppeler H, Seiler R, Binggeli A, Mullis P, Vogt M. The response of trained athletes to six weeks of endurance training in hypoxia or normoxia.  Int J Sports Med. 2003;  24 166-172
• 26 Vogt M, Puntschart A, Geiser J, Zuleger C, Billeter, Hoppeler H. Molecular adaptations in human skeletal muscle to endurance training under simulated hypoxic conditions.  J Appl Physiol. 2001;  91 173-182
• 27 Wagner P D. A theoretical analysis of factors determining V·O_2max at sea level and altitude.  Resp Physiol. 1996;  106 329-343
• 28 Wagner P D. New ideas on limitations on V·O_2max.  Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2000;  28 10-14
• 29 Weibel E R. Stereological Methods. Vol. 1. Practical Methods for Biological Morphometry. New York; Academic Press 1979
• 30 West J B, Boyer S J, Graber D J, Hackett P H, Maret K H, Milledge J S, Peters Jr R M, Pizzo C J, Samaja M , Sarnquist F H. Maximal exercise at extreme altitudes on Mount Everest.  J Appl Physiol. 1983;  55 688-698