The metabolic responses to helium-oxygen breathing during exercise

Date Issued
December 1, 1980
Author(s)
Brice, Alan G.
Advisor(s)
Hugh G. Welch
Additional Advisor(s)
Edward T. Howley
Permanent URI
Abstract
In order to compare the metabolic responses of helium-oxygen breathing during exercise with those of air breathing, four trained male cyclists performed exercise at six different intensities on the bicycle ergometer. Each subject was tested twice at each work load, once while breathing air and once while breathing He-02. Only one test was performed per day and tests were separated by a period of approximately one week to minimize any training or fatigue effects. The variables measured were: oxygen uptake, blood lactate concentration, minute ventilation, and heart rate.

Only the variable minute ventilation showed a statistically significant difference between the breathing mixtures. There was also a significant interaction between work rate and gas for the variable minute ventilation. Tests for simple main effects showed no differences in ventilation between the gases at the low work rates but highly significant differences at the more intense work rates.

There were no statistically significant differences between the breathing mixtures for oxygen uptake or lactate. However, there were definite trends toward higher oxygen uptakes at the high work rates when inspiring He-Og. Lactate also demonstrated a tendency to be higher on He-02. The ambiguous nature of these results suggests the need for further work on these questions.

Degree
Master of Science
Major
Zoology
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Thesis80B753.pdf

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