FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION SECTION   

Medicina dello Sport 2005 March;58(1):17-21

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Quantitative assessment of serum nitric oxide, lactic acid and blood flow rate following supramaximal exercise

Karatosun H. ¹, Akdogan M. ², Caliskan S. ³, Cetin M. ³

¹ Department of Sports Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey; ² Department of Biochemistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey; ³ Department of Physiology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

Aim. Our aim in this study was to compare nitric oxide (NO), lactic acid (LA) and blood flow dynamics after supramaximal exercise and during inactive seated recovery.
Methods. Ten male athletes, mean age 22.4±1.45 years, agreed to participate in the study. The subjects performed the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test. All measurements were taken at rest, immediately after exercise (R0) and during seated recovery period at 5th (R5) and at 20th (R20) minutes respectively. Blood samples were taken from the right antecubital region. Femoral artery blood flow rate were measured from the right femoral artery, using Doppler Ultrasonography.
Results. Measurements made immediately after the exercise, LA increased 600%, NO 22% and blood flow 126%, respectively all compared to rest levels (p<0.012). During inactive seated recovery, NO increased progressively (p<0.012), while lactic acid and blood flow showed a progressive decrease compared to rest levels (p>0.012).
Conclusion. The mechanism by which vasodilation occurs in active skeletal muscles is poorly understood. Existing findings indicate that both NO and LA cause vasodilatation. The increase of nitric oxide during inactive seated recovery seems to support the views that nitric oxide contributes physiologic events more after the exercise than it does during the exercise, and the significant increase of LA during exercise seems to support the views that it contributes to vasodilatation during supramaximal exercise. The significant increase in NO during inactive recovery suggests that its production is independent of shear stress.