Endothelium-derived nitric oxide activity in forearm vessels of
tennis players.
Green, Daniel J., Diana T. Fowler, J. Gerry O'driscoll, Brian A.
Blanksby, & Roger R. Taylor.
Department of Human Movement Studies and Department of Medicine and
Cardiology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western
Australia, 6009
APStracts 3:0177A, 1996.
The aim of this study was to determine whether physical conditioning,
induced by a repetitive exercise stimulus, would elicit changes in
the response of forearm resistance vessels to infusion of substances
which modulate nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Forearm blood flow (FBF)
responses to a 5-minute ischemic stimulus and intrabrachial infusion
of acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and NGmonomethyl
-L-arginine (LNMMA) were examined in the preferred and non-preferred
limbs of 8 habitual tennis players. Forearm volume, girth and grip
strength were significantly greater in the preferred limb, indicating
a bilateral difference in physical condition. This was associated
with an enhanced reactive hyperemic response in the preferred limb
(53.5 +/- 9.4 vs 38.8 +/- 4.7 ml.100 ml-1.min-1, P < 0.05). No
differences between the limbs were evident in response to ACh, SNP or
LNMMA. These results suggest that exercise training enhances peak
vasodilator capacity of the vasculature without influencing basal or
stimulated activity of the NO-dilator system in vivo.
Received 4 December 1995; accepted in final form 6 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A1254-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 16 April 96