Effects of Aerobic Training on the Microcirculation: A Mini Review - Cardiovascular Research

The microcirculation is composed of four different sections: arterioles, capillaries, sphincters and venules. The coronary arteries microcirculation consists the heart and large coronary arteries. The myocardium almost solely dependent on the ability of aerobic metabolism, therefore, oxygen demand must be balance by increasing coronary blood flow compared to rest, almost six-folds at maximal oxygen uptake. Increase in skeletal muscle oxygen demand is met by increasing oxygen delivery namely cardiac output, muscle’s oxygen extraction and microcirculation blood flow. However, at rest oxygen extraction by the myocardium is maximal, hence the only way to balance oxygen demand during exercise is by linear increase in coronary blood flow. Repeated aerobic exercise changes structural and functional adaptations within the cardiovascular system include increases myocardial capillary density, increase vascularity diameters and changes in cell shape and cytoskeletal rearrangement. It is our aim to discuss these numerous contributions on coronary blood flow. We also have extended our discussion to the effect of chronic aerobic exercise which modify some controlling developments in the coronary microcirculation Red blood cells.  

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