Hemodynamic and metabolic effects of exercise in Crotalaria-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats.

The hemodynamic and metabolic effects of exercise were measured in Crotalaria-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. The Crotalaria group had increased preexercise heart rate, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), arteriovenous O2 content difference, right ventricular work index (RVWI), and total pulmonary vascular resistance index (TPVRI) and decreased mean systemic blood pressure (BP), arterial O2 content (CaO2), venous O2 content (CvO2), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), and left ventricular work index (LVWI). The Crotalaria group during exercise had increased PAP, RVWI, TPVRI, and total systemic vascular resistance index and decreased BP, O2 consumption, CaO2, CvO2, CI, SVI, LVWI, O2 pulse index, and exercise duration. It is hypothesized that abnormal right ventricular function was a primary factor in the reduced exercise tolerance of the Crotalaria group.