Fluid and electrolyte hormonal responses to exercise and acute plasma volume expansion

To investigate the effect of acute graded increases in plasma volume (PV) on fluid and regulatory hormone levels, eight untrained men (peak aerobic power 45.2 +/- 2.2 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed prolonged cycle exercise (46 +/- 4% maximal aerobic power on three occasions, namely, with no PV expansion (Con) and after 14% (Low) and 21% (High) expansions, respectively. The exercise plasma levels of aldosterone (Aldo), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were all altered by acute PV increases. A pronounced blunting (P < 0.05) of the Aldo response during exercise was observed, the magnitude of which was directly related to the amount of hypervolemia (Con < Low < High). At 120 min of exercise, Aldo concentrations were 660 +/- 71, 490 +/- 85, and 365 +/- 78 pg/ml for Con, Low, and High conditions, respectively. In contrast, the lower AVP and the higher ANP observed during exercise appeared to be due to the effect of PV expansion on resting concentrations. Because osmolality did not vary among conditions, the results indicate that PV represents an important primary stimulus in the response of Aldo to exercise. The lower exercise blood concentrations of both epinephrine and norepinephrine observed with PV expansion would suggest that a lower sympathetic drive may be implicated at least in the lower Aldo responses.