Effects of a single aerobic exercise on perfused boundary region and microvascular perfusion: a field study

A. Fuchs, T. Neumann, H. Drinhaus, A. Herrmann, H. Vink, T. Annecke*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The endothelium and the glycocalyx play a pivotal role in regulating microvascular function and perfusion in health and critical illness. It is unknown today, whether aerobic exercise immediately affects dimensions of the endothelial surface layer (ESL) in relation to microvascular perfusion as a physiologic adaption to increased nutritional demands. This monocentric observational study was designed to determine real-time ESL and perfusion measurements of the sublingual microcirculation using sidestream dark field imaging performed in 14 healthy subjects before and after completing a 10 km trial running distance. A novel image acquisition and analysis software automatically analysed the perfused boundary region (PBR), an inverse parameter for red blood cell (RBC) penetration of the ESL, in vessels between 5 and 25 mu m diameter. Microvascular perfusion was assessed by calculating RBC filling percentage. There was no significant immediate effect of exercise on PBR and RBC filling percentage. Linear regression analysis revealed a distinct association between change of PBR and change of RBC filling percentage (regression coefficient beta: - 0.026; 95% confidence interval - 0.043 to - 0.009; p = 0.006). A single aerobic exercise did not induce a change of PBR or RBC filling percentage. The endothelium of the microvasculature facilitates efficient perfusion in vessels reacting with an increased endothelial surface layer.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)371-377
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing
Volume36
Issue number2
Early online date3 Feb 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • Capillary density
  • Endothelial surface layer
  • Glycocalyx
  • Intravital microscopy
  • Perfused boundary region
  • Sidestream darkfield imaging
  • capillary density
  • endothelial surface layer
  • glycocalyx
  • intravital microscopy
  • perfused boundary region
  • sidestream darkfield imaging
  • YOUNG
  • ENDOTHELIAL GLYCOCALYX DEGRADATION
  • INTEGRITY

Cite this