Central and peripheral factors mechanistically linked to exercise intolerance in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Exercise intolerance is a primary symptom of heart failure (HF); however, the specific contribution of central and peripheral factors to this intolerance is not well described. The hyperbolic relationship between exercise intensity and time to exhaustion (speed-duration relationship) defines exercise tolerance but is underused in HF. We tested the hypotheses that critical speed (CS) would be reduced in HF, resting central functional measurements would correlate with CS, and the greatest HF-induced peripheral dysfunction would occur in more oxidative muscle. Multiple treadmill-constant speed runs to exhaustion were used to quantify CS and D' (distance coverable above CS) in healthy control (Con) and HF rats. Central function was determined via left ventricular (LV) Doppler echocardiography [fractional shortening (FS)] and a micromanometer-tipped catheter [LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP)]. Peripheral O-2 delivery-to-utilization matching was determined via phosphorescence quenching (interstitial PO2, PO2 is) in the soleus and white gastrocnemius during electrically induced twitch contractions (1 Hz, 8V). CS was lower in HF compared with Con (37 +/- 1 vs. 44 +/- 1 m/min, P < 0.001), but D' was not different (77 +/- 8 vs. 69 +/- 13 m, P = 0.6). HF reduced FS (23 +/- 2 vs. 47 +/- 2%, P < 0.001) and increased LVEDP (15 +/- 1 vs. 7 +/- 1 mmHg, P < 0.001). CS was related to FS (r = 0.72, P = 0.045) and LVEDP (r = -0.75, P = 0.02) only in HF. HF reduced soleus PO2 is at rest and during contractions (both P < 0.01) but had no effect on white gastrocnemius PO2 is (P > 0.05). We show in HF rats that decrements in central cardiac function relate directly with impaired exercise tolerance (i.e., CS) and that this compromised exercise tolerance is likely due to reduced perfusive and diffusive O-2 delivery to oxidative muscles. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that critical speed (CS), which defines the upper boundary of sustainable activity, can be resolved in heart failure (HF) animals and is diminished compared with controls. Central cardiac function is strongly related with CS in the HF animals, but not controls. Skeletal muscle O-2 delivery-to-utilization dysfunction is evident in the more oxidative, but not glycolytic, muscles of HF rats and is explained, in part, by reduced nitric oxide bioavailability.