Nitric oxide (NO) can temporally and spatially match microvascular oxygen (O(2)) delivery (Qo(2mv)) to O(2) uptake (Vo(2)) in the skeletal muscle, a crucial adjustment-to-exercise tolerance that is impaired in chronic heart failure (CHF). To investigate the effects of NO bioavailability induced by sildenafil intake on muscle Qo(2mv)-to-O(2) utilization matching and Vo(2) kinetics, 10 males with CHF (ejection fraction = 27 ± 6%) undertook constant work-rate exercise (70-80% peak). Breath-by-breath Vo(2), fractional O(2)extraction in the vastus lateralis {∼deoxygenated hemoglobin + myoglobin ([deoxy-Hb + Mb]) by near-infrared spectroscopy}, and cardiac output (CO) were evaluated after sildenafil (50 mg) or placebo. Sildenafil increased exercise tolerance compared with placebo by ∼20%, an effect that was related to faster on- and off-exercise Vo(2) kinetics (P < 0.05). Active treatment, however, failed to accelerate CO dynamics (P > 0.05). On-exercise [deoxy-Hb + Mb] kinetics were slowed by sildenafil (∼25%), and a subsequent response "overshoot" (n = 8) was significantly lessened or even abolished. In contrast, [deoxy-Hb + Mb] recovery was faster with sildenafil (∼15%). Improvements in muscle oxygenation with sildenafil were related to faster on-exercise Vo(2) kinetics, blunted oscillations in ventilation (n = 9), and greater exercise capacity (P < 0.05). Sildenafil intake enhanced intramuscular Qo(2mv)-to-Vo(2) matching with beneficial effects on Vo(2) kinetics and exercise tolerance in CHF. The lack of effect on CO suggests that improvement in blood flow to and within skeletal muscles underlies these effects.