Superficial venous vascular response of the resting limb during static exercise and postexercise muscle ischemia

Abstract

Superficial venous vascular response to exercise is mediated sympathetically, although the mechanism is not fully understood. We examined whether sympathetic activation via muscle metaboreflex plays a role in the control of a superficial vein in the contralateral resting limb during exercise. The experimental condition involved selective stimulation of muscle metaboreceptors: 12 subjects performed static handgrip exercises at 45% maximal voluntary contraction for 1.5 min followed by a recovery period with arterial occlusion of the exercise arm (OCCL). For the control condition (CONT), the same exercise protocol was performed except that the recovery period occurred without arterial occlusion. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured. The cross-sectional area of the basilic superficial vein (CSAvein) and blood velocity (Vvein) in the resting upper arm were measured by ultrasound while the cuff on resting upper arm was inflated constantly to a subdiastolic pressure of 50 mm Hg. Basilic vein blood flow (BFvein) was calculated as CSAvein × Vvein. During exercise under both OCCL and CONT, HR and MAP increased (p < 0.05), while CSAvein decreased (p < 0.05). During recovery under OCCL, HR returned to baseline, but the exercise-induced increase in MAP and decrease in CSAvein were maintained (p < 0.05). During recovery under CONT, HR, MAP, and CSAvein returned to baseline. BFvein did not change during exercise or recovery under either condition. These results suggest that sympathoexcitation via muscle metaboreflex may be one of the factors responsible for exercise-induced constriction of the superficial veins per se in the resting limb.

Compliance in the deep and superficial conduit veins of the nonexercising arm is unaffected by short-term exercise

“…The CV for CSA at baseline and during exercise (1.2–6.0% in the superficial vein and 0.5–4.8% in the deep vein) was less than 10% and similar to our previously reported data for the basilic vein (Ooue et al. ) and other studies of the popliteal vein (de Groot et al. ).…”

“…*P < 0.05, significant difference between REST1 and EX35%, †P < 0.05, significant difference between REST1 and EX70%, ‡ P < 0.05, significant difference between EX35% and EX70%. and during exercise (1.2-6.0% in the superficial vein and 0.5-4.8% in the deep vein) was less than 10% and similar to our previously reported data for the basilic vein (Ooue et al 2013) and other studies of the popliteal vein (de Groot et al 2005). In addition, the intraclass correlation coefficients for the CSA and CPL of the two veins at baseline and during exercise were more than 0.93, respectively, which is consistent with another study reporting an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.92 for baseline venous CPL assessed by ultrasonography ).…”

“…In this study, both dynamic and static exercise produced a downward shift of the cuff pressure-CSA curves for the superficial and deep veins from the resting level. The reduction in CSA during dynamic and static exercise was similarly observed in our previous studies using the same ultrasonography technique to assess a basilic vein during cycling exercise (Ooue et al 2008) and static exercise (Ooue et al 2012(Ooue et al , 2013. This is also in line with earlier research assessing venous capacitance of a whole limb by VOP during dynamic exercise (Beveg ard and Shepherd 1965, 1966Zelis and Mason 1969;Rowell et al 1971;Duprez et al 1992) and the change in venous pressure as an index of venoconstriction during static exercise (Lorentsen 1975).…”

“…) and static exercise (Ooue et al. , ). This is also in line with earlier research assessing venous capacitance of a whole limb by VOP during dynamic exercise (Bevegård and Shepherd , ; Zelis and Mason ; Rowell et al.…”

“…; Ooue et al. ) and/or an indirect action of circulating norepinephrine, given that the peripheral venous system is richly innervated by sympathetic fibers (Abdel‐Sayed et al. ; Vanhoutte and Lorenz ; Streeten ; Linder et al.…”