. Does exercise-induced hypoxemia modify lactate influx into erythrocytes and hemorheological parameters in athletes? J Appl Physiol 97: 1053-1058. First published April 30, 2004 10.1152/japplphysiol.00993.2003.-This study investigated 1) red blood cells (RBC) rigidity and 2) lactate influxes into RBCs in endurance-trained athletes with and without exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH). Nine EIH and six non-EIH subjects performed a submaximal steady-state exercise on a cycloergometer at 60% of maximal aerobic power for 10 min, followed by 15 min at 85% of maximal aerobic power. At rest and at the end of exercise, arterialized blood was sampled for analysis of arterialized pressure in oxygen, and venous blood was drawn for analysis of plasma lactate concentrations and hemorheological parameters. Lactate influxes into RBCs were measured at three labeled [U-14 C]lactate concentrations (1.6, 8.1, and 41 mM) on venous blood sampled at rest. The EIH subjects had higher maximal oxygen uptake than non-EIH (P Ͻ 0.05). Total lactate influx was significantly higher in RBCs from EIH compared with non-EIH subjects at 8.1 mM (1,498.1 Ϯ 87.8 vs. 1,035.9 Ϯ 114.8 nmol ⅐ ml Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ; P Ͻ 0.05) and 41 mM (2,562.0 Ϯ 145.0 vs. 1,618.1 Ϯ 149.4 nmol ⅐ ml Ϫ1 ⅐ min Ϫ1 ; P Ͻ 0.01). Monocarboxylate transporter-1-mediated lactate influx was also higher in EIH at 8.1 mM (P Ͻ 0.05) and 41 mM (P Ͻ 0.01). The drop in arterial oxygen partial pressure was negatively correlated with total lactate influx measured at 8.1 mM (r ϭ Ϫ0.82, P Ͻ 0.05) and 41 mM (r ϭ Ϫ0.84, P Ͻ 0.05) in the two groups together. Plasma lactate concentrations and hemorheological data were similar in the two groups at rest and at the end of exercise. The results showed higher monocarboxylate transporter-1-mediated lactate influx in the EIH subjects and suggested that EIH could modify lactate influx into erythrocyte. However, higher lactate influx in EIH subjects was not accompanied by an increase in RBC rigidity. monocarboxylate transporter; endurance; lactate metabolism; hypoxemia; hemorheology TRANSPORT OF LACTATE ACROSS the erythrocyte membrane proceeds by three distinct pathways (9): 1) nonionic diffusion of the undissociated acid; 2) an inorganic anion-exchange system, often referred to as the band 3 system; and 3) a monocarboxylate-specific carrier mechanism (23). Juel et al. (18) recently showed that monocarboxylate transporter-1 (MCT-1) and band 3 expressions were increased with chronic hypoxia exposure, suggesting that these proteins may be upregulated by hypoxia.The functional significance of the hypoxia-induced changes is likely an increase of lactate and H ϩ fluxes from plasma to erythrocyte. During sea-level exercise, some endurance-trained athletes experience arterial hypoxemia [exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH)] that can be defined as a decrease in both oxygen arterial partial pressure (Pa O 2 ) and arterial hemoglobin saturation during exercise (8). Miyachi and Katayama (21) have reported repeated episodes of EIH during training sessions when endurance athlet...