Oxygen consumption, heart rate and the electrocardiogram of pigs during exertion

Abstract

Pigs were exercised for 5 minutes at five different treadmill speeds (1.0-1.8 m• sec^-1 ) (3° incline), while oxygen consumption (MO2), carbon dioxide production (MCO2), and the electrocardiogram (ECG) were continuously recorded. Data were taken at rest, during exercise, and at 2, 5, 15, and 30 minutes after exercise. MO2, MCO2, and heart rate (HR) showed progressive increases with increasing treadmill speed. The respiratory exchange ratio (R) increased during exercise and approached 1.0, but peak values were seen shortly after exercise. A high correlation between HR and MO2 was found in these animals. Prominent increases in T-wave amplitude of the ECG were associated with exercise and early recovery.