Open AccessComparable blood velocity changes in middle and posterior cerebral arteries during and following acute high‐intensity exercise in young fit women
Author(s) -
Labrecque Lawrence,
Drapeau Audrey,
Rahimaly Kevan,
Imhoff Sarah,
Billaut François,
Brassard Patrice
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.14430
Subject(s) - kinesiology , medicine , gerontology , library science , medical education , computer science
The cerebral blood flow response to high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) remains unclear. HIIT induces surges in mean arterial pressure (MAP), which could be transmitted to the brain, especially early after exercise onset. The aim of this study was to describe regional cerebral blood velocity changes during and following 30 s of high‐intensity exercise. Ten women (age: 27 ± 6 years; VO 2max : 48.6 ± 3.8 ml·kg·min −1 ) cycled for 30 s at the workload reached at V ˙ O 2max followed by 3min of passive recovery. Middle (MCAv mean ) and posterior cerebral artery mean blood velocities (PCAv mean ; transcranial Doppler ultrasound), MAP (finger photoplethysmography), and end‐tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (P ET CO 2 ; gaz analyzer) were measured. MCAv mean (+19 ± 10%) and PCAv mean (+21 ± 14%) increased early after exercise onset, returning toward baseline values afterward. MAP increased throughout exercise ( p < .0001). P ET CO 2 initially decreased by 3 ± 2 mmHg ( p < .0001) before returning to baseline values at end‐exercise. During recovery, MCAv mean (+43 ± 15%), PCAv mean (+42 ± 15%), and P ET CO 2 (+11 ± 3 mmHg; p < .0001) increased. In young fit women, cerebral blood velocity quickly increases at the onset of a 30‐s exercise performed at maximal workload, before returning to baseline values through the end of the exercise. During recovery, cerebral blood velocity augments in both arteries, along with P ET CO 2 .