The Role of CO 2 on Respiration and Metabolism During Hypercapnic and Normocapnic Recovery From Exercise

High intensity exercise can lead to depletion of CO2 from the body (hypocapnia). This disturbance becomes more noticeable during recovery or between seasons of intermittent exercise, putting the subject in a neural fatigue state. Objectives: A possible hypothesis to address this condition would be to provide high CO2 mixtures (hypercapnic) during the recovery period from exercise in order to relieve hypocapnia. Methods: Eight men (23.8 ± 1.2 yrs, VO2max = 45 ± 1.9 ml▪kg-1▪min−1) performed cycling exercise at 80%VO2max for 6–7 min. During recovery (23 min) they inhaled hypercapnic air (EXP–21%O2, 3%CO2, and 76%N2) or normal air (CON–21%O2, 0.003%CO2, and 79%N2). Respiratory parameters were collected with open spirometry and heart rate was measured. Results: Exercise caused mild hypocapnia {9.9 mmHg drop of CO2 end-expiratory partial pressure (PETCO2)} in CON condition after exercise (p < .005). PETCO2 elevated close to the rest values during the three hypercapnic phases in EXP condition (main effect of condition p < .001 between EXP and CON), but after hypercapnic breathing it returned to hypocapnia similarly with CON. The ventilatory response (VE▪PETCO2−1) and the exhaled volume of CO2 (VCO2) progressively increased during and also after ventilatory manipulations in EXP compared to CON condition (VE▪PETCO2−1: post hoc p < .001, VCO2: pVCO2: p < .05-.001), and VO2 became lower after the end of second hypercapnic manipulation (p < .05 between EXP and CON). Conclusion: It seems that hypercapnic breathing after exercise is not a good strategy to reverse exercise hypocapnia, because of great hyperventilation caused by CO2 and exercise mechanisms during the recovery period leading to increased CO2 removal from body. This intervention may also decrease O2 supply and muscles blood flow.