Role of cardiac output in the pressor responses to graded muscle ischemia in man

Ten men repeatedly performed leg exercise (100-150 W) for 7 min with 30-min recovery periods interspersed. Both legs were made ischemic by total occlusion (OCCL), first for 3 min immediately after exercise and second for 30 s before exercise ended and 3 min into recovery. In addition, legs were occluded for 3 min at rest (seated). OCCL at rest increased mean arterial pressure (MA) by 9 Torr but did not affect cardiac output (CO) or heart rate (HR). OCCL at the end of exercise significantly raised MAP and HR above control values during 3-min recovery but CO was unaffected. OCCL 30 s before the end of exercise further increased MAP and HR significantly during recovery; MAP, CO, and HR were significantly increased above control values (CO by 2.1 l/min) during the 3rd min of recovery. The authors conclude that a strong reflex from ischemic legs maintains normal or elevated CO during leg OCCL. Thus CO was too high relative to total vascular conductance so that MAP was elevated.