Cardiovascular hemodynamics of bicycle and handgrip exercise in normal subjects before and after administration of propranolol.

Radionuclide angiography was used to study the effects of supine and upright bicycle exercise and handgrip exercise in 17 (12 well-trained) normal subjects before (control) and immediately after the administration of propranolol (160 mg/day for 4 days). Cardiac hemodynamic values were related to position in that control left ventricular volumes and the cardiac index were greater in the supine position than in the upright at rest but resting left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in both positions. The pressure volume index was greater in the upright position than in the supine. At maximal exercise before treatment, however, similar cardiovascular hemodynamic measurements were recorded in both positions. Propranolol increased left ventricular end-diastolic volume at rest and at maximal exercise. Left ventricular end-systolic volume, however, was substantially greater only in the upright position both at rest and at maximal exercise when compared with control values. Heart rate, systolic arterial pressure, cardiac index, and pressure volume index were decreased at rest and maximal exercise after treatment with propranolol. Ejection fraction was decreased in the upright position after propranolol administration but was unchanged in the supine position. Handgrip exercise primarily increased heart rate and arterial pressure and did not affect cardiac volume, and this response was unaffected by propranolol.