Ammonia production following maximal exercise: Treadmill vs. bicycle testing

From a population of 20 healthy male volunteers, half performed constant speed, incremental load maximal aerobic capacity ( \(\dot V_{O_2 \max } \) ) tests on a motor-driven treadmill, while the other half performed similar \(\dot V_{O_2 \max } \) tests on a bicycle ergometer. The two groups, matched for size and age, showed no significant differences in \(\dot V_{O_2 \max } \) , maximum heart rate, or in post-exercise (4 min) peripheral venous blood concentrations of lactate or pyruvate. However, post-exercise peripheral venous blood ammonia levels were significantly higher in the group tested on the bicycle ergometer than in the treadmill group.