Abstract
To investigate relationships between pulmonary transit times (PTT) and pulmonary diffusion limitation during exercise, 10 high aerobic capacity athletes (V̇ O 2max = 5.15 ± 0.52 l · min −1) who had multiple inert gas elimination analysis evidence suggestive of diffusion disequilibrium were studied at rest and maximal exercise. Diffusing capacity for oxygen (D l O 2 ) was calculated from the inert gas data. First pass radionuclide angiography was performed using 99mTechnecium labeled erythrocytes and whole lung PTT and pulmonary blood volume (PBV) were calculated. PTT decreased from 9.32 ± 1.41 sec at rest, to 2.91 ± 0.30 sec during exercise and was correlated with diffusion limitation suggested by the inert gases (r = -0.58, P < 0.05). PBV increased during exercise to over 25% of whole blood volume and correlated with D l O 2 (r = 0.82, P < 0.01). These data suggest that diffusion limitation is related to shortened PTT in athletes and that maximal recruitment of PBV may defend against diffusion limitation.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
