The effect of sex on the cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular response to high-intensity interval exercise

Wilson, Hannah K, Bernert, Lina, Spillane, Padraig, Squires, Emma, Crawford, Lorna, Piasecki, Jessica, Julian, Ross ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8558-7132, Wilhelm, Eurico N, Hicks, Kirsty M and Ansdell, Paul (2025) The effect of sex on the cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular response to high-intensity interval exercise. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00306.2024 (In Press)

Preview

Text (Published ahead of print version) 15059 Wilson et al (2025) Th effect of sex on the cardoipulmonary.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

Sex differences exist in the integrative response to exercise, however, these are typically researched during incremental and constant-load exercise. Interval exercise involves high intensity efforts interspersed with recovery periods to repeatedly stress physiological systems, and it is currently unknown whether the response to this form of exercise differs between sexes. Ten males and ten females (age: 25±3 years) completed two experimental visits. First, an incremental treadmill exercise test was performed to obtain submaximal (lactate threshold) and maximal (V̄O 2peak ) data. Thereafter, visit two involved 4 × 3-min running intervals at 90% of the final incremental test velocity (vV̄O 2peak ), with 90 secs rest between intervals. Before exercise and after each interval, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), quadriceps potentiated twitch (Q tw.pot ), and voluntary activation (VA) were recorded. The rates of oxygen uptake (V̄O 2 ), carbon dioxide production (V̄CO 2 ) and ventilation (V̄ E ) were continuously recorded throughout. There was no sex difference in relative V̄O 2peak (males: 47.2±6.0 vs. females: 44.4±5.8 ml.kg- 1 .min -1 , p=0.292). When expressed relative to peak values, there were no sex differences in the V̄O 2 or V̄CO 2 response to the interval task (p≥0.781). Females had greater V̄ E /V̄O 2 , and V̄ E /V̄CO 2 values during the first (p≤0.034) and second (V̄ E /V̄CO 2 , p=0.006) intervals, with a sex × time interaction effect (p≤0.046). There were no sex differences in the reductions in MVC, Q tw.pot , and VA during the interval task (p≥0.150), however females had lesser reductions in Q tw.pot values post-exercise (-24±9 vs. -15±8%, p=0.044). Sex differences exist in the physiological response to interval exercise. Compared to males, females experienced greater hyperpnoea during the initial stages, and had lesser decreases in contractile function post-exercise.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fatigue; Female; Gender; HIIT; Male
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology Q Science > QP Physiology > QP301.H75 Physiology. Sport R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Depositing User:	Charlotte Crutchlow
Date Deposited:	28 May 2025 08:15
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2025 08:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15059

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record