Stroke volume and ejection fraction also increased significantly from R to 300W (p End diastolic volume increased from R to heavy exercise (p < 0.001), accompanied by a decrease in end systolic volume (p =0.05). The overall and perfusion-related indices of VA/Q mismatch showed a significant increase with exercise, mainly as a result of increasing perfusion of areas of high VA/Q D0₂(0 was greater than predicted, becoming significant during heavy exercise, indicating diffusion limitation. D0₂(3) increased across each exercise levels however only the increase from 150 to 300 W was significant. Mean arterial partial pressure of 0₂ (Pa0₂) decreased significantly from rest to 150W, and from 150 to 300W to a low value of 86☙ torn, before increasing to near resting values at maximal exercise. On a separate occasion, first pass cardiac outputs and pulmonary transit times were obtained at maximal exercise.
Gated radionuclide angiography was then performed at rest, 150, and 300W. PTT was determined using deconvolution and centroid methods. First pass and post-static data were obtained on an ADAC 3003 computer and cardiac output was calculated using the Stewart Hamilton equation. Following in vitro labeling with 99mTechnecium, 5-10 ml of the subject's blood, containing 10-20 mCi of activity, were injected at rest. One to two weeks later, the subjects underwent first pass radionuclide angiography using a Siemens ZLC wide field of view gamma camera. Additional indices of '/A/I,) mismatch: DISPR*, DISPE and DISPR*_E and inert gas alveolar difference (D, R(A-a)D and E(A-a)D) were obtained directly from the inert gas data. Indices of VA/Q mismatch: LogSDi and Log SDa and predicted D0₂(DO₂(p)) were derived from 50 compartment model analysis of retentions and excretions of the inert gases.
Observed alveolar arterial difference (D0₂(0)was calculated according to the alveolar gas equation.
Arterial blood samples, mixed expired gas samples and metabolic data were obtained. To investigate the relationship between pulmonary diffusion limitation, ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) mismatch, pulmonary transit times (PTT) and pulmonary gas exchange during exercise, 10 highly trained male athletes (age=26.4±4.4 years, Height=185.5±5.3cms, Weight=78.2☘.6 kg, V 02max=5.15☐.521-min-1) under went exercise testing at rest (R) and 150W, 300W and maximal exercise (372☒2W), corresponding to an oxygen consumption (V0₂) of 0.41☐.09, 2.16☐.17, 4.32☐.35 and 5.13☐.50 1-min-1respectively, while trace amounts of six inert gases were infused via a peripheral vein.