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01-07-2009 | Original Article

The effects of sildenafil and acetazolamide on breathing efficiency and ventilatory control during hypoxic exercise

Authors: Sophie Lalande, Eric M. Snyder, Thomas P. Olson, Minelle L. Hulsebus, Marek Orban, Virend K. Somers, Bruce D. Johnson, Robert P. Frantz

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 4/2009

Abstract

The reduced arterial oxygen tension at high altitude impairs the ability to work. Acetazolamide improves arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) by increasing ventilation but is associated with an increased work and cost of breathing. Depending on the settings, sildenafil can also increases SaO₂ possibly through a reduction in pulmonary hypertension and interstitial edema, which could improve ventilation–perfusion matching. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of acetazolamide and sildenafil on ventilatory control and breathing efficiency (V _E/VCO₂) during submaximal steady-state hypoxic exercise in healthy individuals. Following 18 h of hypoxic exposure in an altitude tent at an oxygen concentration of 12.5% (simulated altitude of 4,300 m), 15 participants performed 10 min of hypoxic exercise on a stationary bicycle at 40% of their sea level peak oxygen uptake (VO₂) while randomly receiving sildenafil 40 mg (SIL), acetazolamide 125 mg (ACZ) or a placebo (PLA). There was no difference in VO₂ during exercise between conditions while SaO₂ was greater with acetazolamide compared to both placebo and sildenafil. Acetazolamide increased ventilation (PLA 49.0 ± 3.2, SIL 47.7 ± 3.1, ACZ 52.1 ± 3.0 l/min) and reduced end-tidal CO₂ (P _ETCO₂) (PLA 32.1 ± 0.8, SIL 32.8 ± 0.9, ACZ 29.2 ± 0.7 mmHg) compared to placebo and sildenafil. Breathing was less efficient with acetazolamide (increased V _E/VCO₂) in comparison to placebo and sildenafil (PLA 41.5 ± 1.0, SIL 40.4 ± 1.3, ACZ 45.4 ± 1.0) while sildenafil did not change V _E/VCO₂ during hypoxic exercise. In conclusion, acetazolamide increased ventilation and reduced breathing efficiency while sildenafil did not affect breathing efficiency despite a trend toward a blunted ventilatory response, possibly due to a reduction in pulmonary hypertension and/or ventilatory drive, during submaximal hypoxic exercise in healthy individuals.

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Title: The effects of sildenafil and acetazolamide on breathing efficiency and ventilatory control during hypoxic exercise
Authors: Sophie Lalande
Eric M. Snyder
Thomas P. Olson
Minelle L. Hulsebus
Marek Orban
Virend K. Somers
Bruce D. Johnson
Robert P. Frantz
Publication date: 01-07-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 4/2009
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1042-5

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The effects of sildenafil and acetazolamide on breathing efficiency and ventilatory control during hypoxic exercise

Abstract

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