Changes in fibrinolysis following exercise above and below lactate threshold

Abstract

This study sought to compare fibrinolytic responses to exercise above lactate threshold (LT) to longer-duration, equicaloric exercise below LT. Fifteen males performed cycle ergometer tests above (77% VO 2peak) and below LT (41% VO 2peak) to comparatively evaluate tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) responses. tPA activity significantly ( P < 0.05) increased during the > LT test (pre-exercise = 1.57 ± 0.44 IU ml − 1 , post-exercise = 3.85 ± 4.72 IU ml − 1 ), but not the < LT test (pre-exercise = 1.51 ± 0.36 IU ml − 1 , post-exercise = 1.94 ± 1.00 IU ml − 1 ). Plasma tPA antigen significantly ( P < 0.05) increased during both the > LT (pre-exercise = 8.32 ± 4.48 ng ml − 1 , post-exercise = 14.23 ± 5.40 ng ml − 1 ) and < LT (pre-exercise = 7.40 ± 3.52 ng ml − 1 , post-exercise = 9.03 ± 3.25 ng ml − 1 ) tests. Furthermore, post-exercise tPA antigen was greater ( P < 0.05) following the > LT test. PAI-1 activity significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased during both the > LT (pre-exercise = 15.00 ± 2.73 AU ml − 1 , post-exercise = 10.12 ± 2.90 AU ml − 1 ) and < LT (pre-exercise = 14.51 ± 2.80 AU ml − 1 , post-exercise = 12.59 ± 2.20 AU ml − 1 ) tests, and the post-exercise PAI-1 activity was significantly ( P < 0.05) lower during the > LT test. Our results suggest that exercise < LT can cause fibrinolytic responses and that exercise above LT elicits greater fibrinolytic responses than equicaloric exercise performed below LT.