Effect of varied lactate levels on bicycle ergometer performance.

Six subjects exercised on the bicycle ergometer on three separate occasions. Each of the three tests that each subject performed consisted of a 5-min work period [95% maximal O2 uptake (VO2max)], followed by a 4-min rest period, and then a performance task to exhaustion (90% VO2max). Each test varied only in the inspired O2 fraction (FIO2) (16, 21, or 60% O2 in N2) that was breathed during the initial 5-min work period. The remainder of each test was carried out with 21% O2. Total power output was the same for each subject during the initial 5-min work bout. However, the varied FIO2 breathed during this initial work period resulted in significantly different mean blood lactate (and H+) concentrations at the start of the performance task (P less than 0.05). Mean performance time was significantly greater (P = 0.04) after the hyperoxic treatment (14.8 min) when compared with the hypoxic (9.1 min). Mean blood lactate and H+ levels at exhaustion were not significantly different. These data demonstrate that when various blood (or muscle) lactate and H+ levels were induced on different occasions by leg muscles, the subsequent performance of those muscles was significantly affected.