Sequential changes in plasma noradrenaline during bicycle exercise.

1. Forearm venous plasma noradrenaline, heart rate and intra-arterial blood pressure were measured sequentially during and after upright bicycle exercise in five normotensive and six hypertensive patients. 2. Plasma noradrenaline increased significantly between 4 and 8 min during exercise. 3. On stopping exercise blood pressure and heart rate decreased rapidly whilst plasma noradrenaline increased in each subject to reach a maximum at a median time of 108 s after exercise. 4. Plasma noradrenaline decreased in five of six normotensive patients between the end of exercise and 2 min after exercise performed in the supine position. 5. Evidence in favour of a reflex increase in sympathetic activity after upright exercise is discussed.