Modeling of gender differences in respiratory function during exercise using Quantitative Human Physiology

Quantitative Human Physiology (QHP) is an open‐source XML model of human physiology based on Quantitative Circulatory Physiology (QCP), a previous model created to incorporate over 4000 simultaneous equations. The QHP model has been expanded to include a female (F) subject, allowing investigation of gender differences on human physiology. For this model, respiratory function was examined in a 78‐kg male (M) subject and a 60‐kg F subject. The protocol involved having the subjects perform 30‐min treadmill exercise protocol (2% incline at 2 miles/hour) and comparing respiratory parameters to pre‐exercise conditions. Respiratory parameters were analyzed as percent increases, due to the different baseline parameters between the M and F subjects. Pre‐exercise alveolar ventilation (Va) for M and F was 4.4 L/ min and 3.5 L/min, respectively. Following 30 min of exercise, M Va increased 305% whereas F Va increased 394% (Figure). Interestingly, post‐exercise Va was similar between the M and F (17.8 L/min vs. 17.3 L/min). This model will investigate the physiological mechanisms underlying these differences in respiratory function between M and F, including the role of differences in pulmonary blood flow and blood gas exchange. Supported by NSF EPSCoR and NIH # HL‐51971.