K_IR channel activation links local vasodilatation with muscle fibre recruitment during exercise in humans.

ABSTRACT:

Key points

During exercise, blood flow to working skeletal muscle increases in parallel with contractile activity such that oxygen delivery is sufficient to meet metabolic demand. K⁺ released from active skeletal muscle fibres could facilitate vasodilatation in proportion to the degree of muscle fibre recruitment. Once released, K⁺ stimulates inwardly rectifying K⁺ (K_IR ) channels on the vasculature to elicit an increase in blood flow. In the present study, we demonstrate that K_IR channels mediate the rapid vasodilatory response to an increase in exercise intensity. We also show that K_IR channels augment vasodilatation during exercise which demands greater muscle fibre recruitment independent of the total amount of w

SUBMITTER: Terwoord JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7332407 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature