title: Oxygen consumption and distribution of blood flow in rats climbing a laddermill.
abstract: The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to determine whether untrained rats that refused to run on treadmill would climb on a laddermill (75 degrees incline); 2) to determine O2 consumption (VO2) in untrained rats as a function of laddermill climbing speed; and 3) to determine whether the circulatory response of untrained rats to laddermill climbing is similar to that previously reported for treadmill running at an equivalent VO2. Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley rats that would not perform on a treadmill as part of another study were used to measure VO2 as a function of laddermill speed (5-17 m/min). Data were obtained from all 18 rats; VO2 increased linearly as a function of laddermill speed (r = 0.83, y = 3.0 x + 63.2). Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats that also refused to run on a treadmill were used to measure mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and blood flow distribution (with microspheres) during climbing at 5 and 10 m/min. These exercise intensities were metabolically equivalent to level treadmill running at 45 and 60 m/min (VO2 approximately 78 and 93 ml.min-1.kg-1, respectively). Of the 24 animals, 23 were willing to climb. Mean arterial pressures were higher (approximately 10%) during laddermill climbing than during equivalent treadmill running, but heart rates were the same. General blood flow distribution among muscles as a function of fiber type (with red muscles receiving higher flows) and between muscles and visceral tissues (muscle blood flow increased as a function of exercise intensity while visceral blood flows decreased) were similar to data for rats running on the level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains