Oral ATP administration improves blood flow response to exercise in an animal model and in resistance trained athletes

Abstract

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is hypothesized to stimulate vasodilation by binding to endothelial ATP/UTP-selective P2Y2 receptors; a phenomenon which is posited to be accelerated during exercise. Nonetheless, no studies to our knowledge have delineated if supplemental ATP enhances the blood flow response to exercise. Herein, we used a rat model to examine how different dosages of acute oral ATP administration affected the femoral blood flow response prior to, during, and after an exercise bout. In addition, we performed a single dose chronic administration study in resistance trained athletes.