Post-exercise endothelial function is not associated with extracellular vesicle release in healthy young males

This study aims to compare the time course of endothelial responses to moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and the associations with EV release. Eighteen young healthy males (age: 22.6  ± 3.7 years, BMI: 25.6 ± 2.5 m2/kg, and VO2peak: 38.6 ± 6.5 mL/kg/min) completed two randomly assigned exercises: HIIE (10 × 1 min-@-90% heart rate reserve (HRR) and 1 min passive recovery) and MICE (30 min-@-70% HRR) on a cycle ergometer. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was used to as sess endothelial function and blood samples were collected to evaluate endothelial cell-derived EV (CD62E+) and platelet-derived EV (CD41a+), 10, 60, and 120 min before and after exercise. There were similar increases but different time courses (P = 0.017) in FMD (increased 10 min post-HIIE, P <  0.0001 and 60 min post-MICE, P = 0.038). CD62E+ remained unchanged (P = 0.530), whereas overall CD41a+ release was reduced 60 min post-exercise (P = 0.040). FMD was not associated with EV absolute release or change (P >  0.05). Acute exercise resulted in similar improvements, but different time course in FMD following either exercise. Whilst EVs were not associated with FMD, the reduction in platelet-derived EVs may represent a protective mechanism following acute exercise.
Source: Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism - Category: Physiology Authors: Source Type: research