Fig. 3.

Individual stimulus–response relationships between oxygen saturation and vascular conductance. To assess vascular responsiveness to hypoxia, the slopes of the relationship between vascular conductance (mL min⁻¹ 100 mmHg⁻¹) and S_aO₂ (%) are presented. Negative values represent net hypoxia-mediated vasodilation; positive values represent vasoconstriction. a Individual slopes of the relationship between vascular conductance and S_aO₂ at rest. b Slopes at steady-state 8 kg exercise. c Slopes at steady-state 12 kg exercise. Group averages in open symbols. *p < 0.05 versus lean