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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 93/2/296    most recent expphysiol.2007.039867v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kawano, H. Articles by Miyachi, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kawano, H. Articles by Miyachi, M.

¹ National Institute of Health and Nutrition Program for Health Promotion, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku 162-8636, Japan ² Wasada University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorazawa, Saitama, Japan

Resistance training is a popular mode of exercise, but may result in stiffening of the central arteries. Changes in carotid artery diameter were determined using the cold pressor test (CPT), which results in production of nitric oxide via sympathetic activation and is one of the novel methods available for assessing endothelial function in the carotid artery. To investigate the effect of resistance training on endothelial function, we designed a cross-sectional study of carotid arterial vasoreactivity to CPT in men participating in regular resistance training with increased carotid arterial stiffness compared with age-matched control subjects. Twelve resistance-trained middle-aged men (age 38.7 ± 1.7 years) and 17 age-matched control subjects (age 36.8 ± 1.2 years) were studied. The direction and magnitude of changes in carotid artery diameter were measured by B-mode ultrasonography during sympathetic stress induced by submersion of the foot in ice slush for 90 s. Carotid arterial β-stiffness index, and systolic and mean arterial blood pressure were higher (7.7 ± 0.7 versus 6.0 ± 0.4 arbitrary units, 116 ± 2 versus 131 ± 4 mmHg and 86 ± 2 versus 95 ± 2 mmHg, respectively, all P < 0.05) in the resistance training group compared with control subjects. There were, however, no significant differences in the amount or percentage change in carotid artery diameter in CPT between the two groups (resistance training group, 0.33 ± 0.07 mm and 5.2 ± 1.1%; control group, 0.37 ± 0.06 mm and 5.8 ± 0.9%, respectively). These findings suggest that while carotid arterial stiffening and higher blood pressure are observed in regular resistance-trained men, these are not associated with abnormalities in carotid arterial vasoreactivity to sympathetic stimulus, which implies intact endothelial function.

(Received 9 August 2007; accepted after revision 27 September 2007; first published online 2 October 2007)
Corresponding author M. Miyachi: National Institute of Health and Nutrition Program for Health Promotion, 1–23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku 162–8636, Japan. Email: miyachi{at}nih.go.jp