Enhanced oxygen extraction and reduced flow heterogeneity in exercising muscle in endurance-trained men

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of endurance training on skeletal muscle hemodynamics and oxygen consumption. Seven healthy endurance-trained and seven untrained subjects were studied. Oxygen uptake, blood flow, and blood volume were measured in the quadriceps femoris muscle group by use of positron emission tomography and 15O]O2, 15O]H2O, and 15O]CO during rest and one-legged submaximal intermittent isometric exercise. The oxygen extraction fraction was higher (0.49 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.29 +/- 0.12; P = 0.017) and blood transit time longer (0.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.1 min; P = 0.04) in the exercising muscle of the trained compared with the untrained subjects. The flow heterogeneity by means of relative dispersion was lower for the exercising muscle in the trained (50 +/- 9%) compared with the untrained subjects (65 +/- 13%, P = 0.025). In conclusion, oxygen extraction is higher, blood transit time longer, and perfusion more homogeneous in endurance-trained subjects compared with untrained subjects at the same workload. These changes may be associated with improved exercise efficiency in the endurance-trained subjects.