Muscle enzyme activity in humans: role of substrate availability and training

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (5) ◽  
pp. R1620-R1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Helge ◽  
B. Kiens

To study the effect of nutrient intake (substrate flux) and training on muscle enzyme activities, 36 untrained healthy men adapted for 7 wk to a fat-rich or a carbohydrate-rich diet. Ten of the 18 subjects on each diet completed an endurance training program, and the remaining 8 served as controls. Maximal oxygen uptake was increased (11%) in the trained groups (P < 0.05). Irrespective of training, beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activity in the vastus lateralis muscle was significantly increased by an average of 25% after adaptation to a fat-rich diet and was unchanged after adaptation to a carbohydrate-rich diet. In contrast, irrespective of diet, muscle citrate synthase activity and hexokinase activity were increased (P < 0.05) after adaptation to training by 17 and 18% in the group fed the carbohydrate, rich diet and by 17 and 12% in the group fed the fat-rich diet, respectively, and were unchanged in the two control groups. We suggest that diet can affect muscle enzymatic adaptation, presumably through an effect on the substrate flux.

1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1873-1880 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Coggan ◽  
W. M. Kohrt ◽  
R. J. Spina ◽  
J. P. Kirwan ◽  
D. M. Bier ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the rate of plasma glucose oxidation during exercise is inversely related to muscle respiratory capacity. To this end, 14 subjects were studied: in 7 of these subjects, the blood lactate threshold (LT) occurred at a relatively high intensity [i.e., at 65 +/- 2% of peak cycle ergometer oxygen uptake (VO2 peak)], whereas in the other 7 subjects, LT occurred at a relatively low intensity (i.e., at 45 +/- 2% of VO2 peak). VO2peak did not differ between the two groups, but citrate synthase activity in the vastus lateralis muscle was 53% higher (P < 0.05) in the high LT group. A primed continuous infusion of [U-13C]glucose was used to quantify rates of glucose appearance (Ra), disappearance (Rd), and oxidation (R(ox)) during 90 min of exercise at 55% VO2peak. Although both absolute and relative rates of oxygen uptake during exercise were similar in the two groups, mean Ra and Rd were 17% lower (P < 0.001) in the high LT group, and mean R(ox) was 25% lower (21.0 +/- 2.6 vs. 27.9 +/- 2.6 mumol.min-1.kg-1; P < 0.001). The percentage of total energy derived from glucose oxidation was inversely related to muscle citrate synthase activity (r = -0.85; P < 0.01). These data support the concept that skeletal muscle respiratory capacity has a major role in determining the metabolic response to submaximal exercise.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (6) ◽  
pp. H1949-H1954 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. McAllister ◽  
M. D. Delp ◽  
K. A. Thayer ◽  
M. H. Laughlin

Hypothyroidism is characterized by exercise intolerance. We hypothesized that active muscle blood flow during in vivo exercise is inadequate in the hypothyroid state. Additionally, we hypothesized that endurance exercise training would restore normal blood flow during acute exercise. To test these hypotheses, rats were made hypothyroid (Hypo) over 3-4 mo with propylthiouracil. A subset of Hypo rats was trained (THypo) on a treadmill at 30 m/min (15% grade) for 60 min/day 5 days/wk over 10-15 wk. Hypothyroidism was evidenced by approximately 80% reductions in plasma triiodothyronine levels in Hypo and THypo and by 40-50% reductions in citrate synthase activities in high oxidative muscles in Hypo compared with euthyroid (Eut) rats. Training efficacy was indicated by increased (25-100%) citrate synthase activities in muscles of THypo vs. Hypo. Regional blood flows were determined by the radiolabeled microsphere method before exercise and at 1-2 min of treadmill running at 15 m/min (0% grade). Preexercise muscle blood flows were generally similar among groups. During exercise, however, flows were lower in Hypo than in Eut for high oxidative muscles such as the red section of vastus lateralis [277 +/- 24 and 153 +/- 13 (SE) ml.min-1.100 g-1 for Eut and Hypo, respectively; P < 0.01] and vastus intermedius (317 +/- 32 and 187 +/- 20 ml.min-1.100 g-1 for Eut and Hypo, respectively; P < 0.01) muscles. Training (THypo) did not normalize these flows (168 +/- 24 and 181 +/- 24 ml.min-1.100 g-1 for red section of vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius muscles, respectively). Blood flows to low oxidative muscle, such as the white section of vastus lateralis muscle, were similar among groups (21 +/- 5, 25 +/- 4, and 34 +/- 7 ml.min-1.100 g-1 for Eut, Hypo, and THypo, respectively; P = NS). These findings indicate that hypothyroidism is associated with reduced blood flow to skeletal muscle during exercise, suggesting that impaired delivery of nutrients to and/or removal of metabolites from skeletal muscle contributes to the poor exercise tolerance characteristic of hypothyroidism.


2018 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 1636-1645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Gries ◽  
Ulrika Raue ◽  
Ryan K. Perkins ◽  
Kaleen M. Lavin ◽  
Brittany S. Overstreet ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic lifelong exercise (LLE) on maximum oxygen consumption (V̇o2max) and skeletal muscle metabolic fitness in trained women ( n = 7, 72 ± 2 yr) and men ( n = 21, 74 ± 1 yr) and compare them to old, healthy nonexercisers (OH; women: n = 10, 75 ± 1 yr; men: n = 10, 75 ± 1 yr) and young exercisers (YE; women: n = 10, 25 ± 1 yr; men: n = 10, 25 ± 1 yr). LLE men were further subdivided based on intensity of lifelong exercise and competitive status into performance (LLE-P, n = 14) and fitness (LLE-F, n = 7). On average, LLE exercised 5 day/wk for 7 h/wk over the past 52 ± 1 yr. Each subject performed a maximal cycle test to assess V̇o2maxand had a vastus lateralis muscle biopsy to examine capillarization and metabolic enzymes [citrate synthase, β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (β-HAD), and glycogen phosphorylase]. V̇o2maxhad a hierarchical pattern (YE > LLE > OH, P < 0.05) for women (44 ± 2 > 26 ± 2 > 18 ± 1 ml·kg−1·min−1) and men (53 ± 3 > 34 ± 1 > 22 ± 1 ml·kg−1·min−1) and was greater ( P < 0.05) in LLE-P (38 ± 1 ml·kg−1·min−1) than LLE-F (27 ± 2 ml·kg−1·min−1). LLE men regardless of intensity and women had similar capillarization and aerobic enzyme activity (citrate synthase and β-HAD) as YE, which were 20%–90% greater ( P < 0.05) than OH. In summary, these data show a substantial V̇o2maxbenefit with LLE that tracked similarly between the sexes, with further enhancement in performance-trained men. For skeletal muscle, 50+ years of aerobic exercise fully preserved capillarization and aerobic enzymes, regardless of intensity. These data suggest that skeletal muscle metabolic fitness may be easier to maintain with lifelong aerobic exercise than more central aspects of the cardiovascular system.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Lifelong exercise (LLE) is a relatively new and evolving area of study with information especially limited in women and individuals with varying exercise intensity habits. These data show a substantial maximal oxygen consumption benefit with LLE that tracked similarly between the sexes. Our findings contribute to the very limited skeletal muscle biopsy data from LLE women (>70 yr), and similar to men, revealed a preserved metabolic phenotype comparable to young exercisers.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1399-1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. Kline ◽  
P. J. Bechtel

The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in equine muscle from birth to 1 yr of age. Duplicate biopsies from the middle portion of the gluteus medius were obtained from a depth of 2 cm beneath the superficial fascia at 1 day, 7 days, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 11 quarter horses and at 1 day, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 5 Standardbreds. Muscle enzyme activities determined were citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Percent fast-twitch, fast-twitch high oxidative, and slow-twitch oxidative fiber types were determined using succinate dehydrogenase and myosin adenosinetriphosphatase (pH 9.4) histochemical stains. Histochemically determined muscle fiber-type percents did not change dramatically with increasing age. However, lactate dehydrogenase activity increased threefold in quarter horses and twofold in Standardbreds, and phosphorylase activity increased sixfold in quarter horses and sevenfold in Standardbreds from 1 day to 6 mo of age. Citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities decreased during the first 3 mo of age in quarter horses.


2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 2132-2138 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thomas ◽  
P. Sirvent ◽  
S. Perrey ◽  
E. Raynaud ◽  
J. Mercier

The present study investigated whether blood lactate removal after supramaximal exercise and fatigue indexes measured during continuous and intermittent supramaximal exercises are related to the maximal muscle oxidative capacity in humans with different training status. Lactate recovery curves were obtained after a 1-min all-out exercise. A biexponential time function was then used to determine the velocity constant of the slow phase (γ2), which denoted the blood lactate removal ability. Fatigue indexes were calculated during all-out (FIAO) and repeated 10-s cycling sprints (FISprint). Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle, and maximal ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration ( Vmax) was evaluated in an oxygraph cell on saponin-permeabilized muscle fibers with pyruvate + malate and glutamate + malate as substrates. Significant relationships were found between γ2 and pyruvate + malate Vmax ( r = 0.60, P < 0.05), γ2 and glutamate + malate Vmax ( r = 0.66, P < 0.01), and γ2 and citrate synthase activity ( r = 0.76, P < 0.01). In addition, γ2, glutamate + malate Vmax, and pyruvate + malate Vmax were related to FIAO (γ2 − FIAO: r = 0.85; P < 0.01; glutamate + malate Vmax − FIAO: r = 0.70, P < 0.01; and pyruvate + malate Vmax − FIAO: r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and FISprint (γ2 − FISprint: r = 0.74, P < 0.01; glutamate + malate Vmax − FISprint: r = 0.64, P < 0.01; and pyruvate + malate Vmax − FISprint: r = 0.46, P < 0.01). In conclusion, these results suggested that the maximal muscle oxidative capacity was related to blood lactate removal ability after a 1-min all-out test. Moreover, maximal muscle oxidative capacity and blood lactate removal ability were associated with the delay in the fatigue observed during continuous and intermittent supramaximal exercises in well-trained subjects.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. E222-E230 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Phillips ◽  
H. J. Green ◽  
M. A. Tarnopolsky ◽  
S. M. Grant

This study investigated the hypothesis that training-induced reductions in exercise blood glucose utilization can occur independently of increases in muscle mitochondrial potential. To induce a training adaptation, eight active participants (23 +/- 1 yr, 80.6 +/- 3.7 kg, mean +/- SE) with a maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) of 45.5 +/- 2.4 ml.kg-1.min-1, cycled at 59% VO2max for 2 h per day for 10 consecutive days. Measurements of blood glucose appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd), using a primed continuous infusion of [6,6-2H2]glucose, were made during 90 min of cycle exercise (59% VO2max) performance before and after training. Training resulted in a 25% decrease (P < 0.01) in mean glucose Ra during exercise (43.0 +/- 3.7 to 34.4 +/- 2.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1). Since blood glucose concentration was not different between training conditions, glucose metabolic clearance rate was also depressed (P < 0.05). Exercise-induced glycogen depletion in vastus lateralis muscle was reduced (P < 0.05) with training. Calculation of carbohydrate and fat oxidation based on the respiratory exchange ratio supported a shift toward greater preference for fat. Because training did not elicit changes in the maximal activities of citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase, two enzymes of the citric acid cycle, it would appear that increases in mitochondrial potential are not necessary for the adaptations that occurred.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (5) ◽  
pp. R1383-R1391 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Green ◽  
E. Bombardier ◽  
M. E. Burnett ◽  
I. C. Smith ◽  
S. M. Tupling ◽  
...  

In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that the metabolic adaptations observed during steady-state exercise soon after the onset of training would be displayed during the nonsteady period of moderate exercise and would occur in the absence of increases in peak aerobic power (V̇o2peak) and in muscle oxidative potential. Nine untrained males [age = 20.8 ± 0.70 (SE) yr] performed a cycle task at 62% V̇o2peak before (Pre-T) and after (Post-T) training for 2 h/day for 5 days at task intensity. Tissue samples extracted from the vastus lateralis at 0 min (before exercise) and at 10, 60, and 180 s of exercise, indicated that at Pre-T, reductions ( P < 0.05) in phosphocreatine and increases ( P < 0.05) in creatine, inorganic phosphate, calculated free ADP, and free AMP occurred at 60 and 180 s but not at 10 s. At Post-T, the concentrations of all metabolites were blunted ( P < 0.05) at 60 s. Training also reduced ( P < 0.05) the increase in lactate and the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio observed during exercise at Pre-T. These adaptations occurred in the absence of change in V̇o2peak (47.8 ± 1.7 vs. 49.2 ± 1.7 ml·kg−1·min−1) and in the activities (mol·kg protein−1·h−1) of succinic dehydrogenase (3.48 ± 0.21 vs. 3.77 ± 0.35) and citrate synthase (7.48 ± 0.61 vs. 8.52 ± 0.65) but not cytochrome oxidase (70.8 ± 5.1 vs. 79.6 ± 6.6 U/g protein; P < 0.05). It is concluded that the tighter metabolic control observed following short-term training is initially expressed during the nonsteady state, probably as a result of increases in oxidative phosphorylation that is not dependent on changes in V̇o2peak while the role of oxidative potential remains uncertain.


2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Trappe ◽  
Erik Hayes ◽  
Andrew Galpin ◽  
Leonard Kaminsky ◽  
Bozena Jemiolo ◽  
...  

We examined whole body aerobic capacity and myocellular markers of oxidative metabolism in lifelong endurance athletes [ n = 9, 81 ± 1 yr, 68 ± 3 kg, body mass index (BMI) = 23 ± 1 kg/m2] and age-matched, healthy, untrained men ( n = 6; 82 ± 1 y, 77 ± 5 kg, BMI = 26 ± 1 kg/m2). The endurance athletes were cross-country skiers, including a former Olympic champion and several national/regional champions, with a history of aerobic exercise and participation in endurance events throughout their lives. Each subject performed a maximal cycle test to assess aerobic capacity (V̇o2max). Subjects had a resting vastus lateralis muscle biopsy to assess oxidative enzymes (citrate synthase and βHAD) and molecular (mRNA) targets associated with mitochondrial biogenesis [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam)]. The octogenarian athletes had a higher ( P < 0.05) absolute (2.6 ± 0.1 vs. 1.6 ± 0.1 l/min) and relative (38 ± 1 vs. 21 ± 1 ml·kg−1·min−1) V̇o2max, ventilation (79 ± 3 vs. 64 ± 7 l/min), heart rate (160 ± 5 vs. 146 ± 8 beats per minute), and final workload (182 ± 4 vs. 131 ± 14 W). Skeletal muscle oxidative enzymes were 54% (citrate synthase) and 42% (βHAD) higher ( P < 0.05) in the octogenarian athletes. Likewise, basal PGC-1α and Tfam mRNA were 135% and 80% greater ( P < 0.05) in the octogenarian athletes. To our knowledge, the V̇o2max of the lifelong endurance athletes is the highest recorded in humans >80 yr of age and comparable to nonendurance trained men 40 years younger. The superior cardiovascular and skeletal muscle health profile of the octogenarian athletes provides a large functional reserve above the aerobic frailty threshold and is associated with lower risk for disability and mortality.


2015 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. 1040-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Costes ◽  
Harry Gosker ◽  
Léonard Feasson ◽  
Marine Desgeorges ◽  
Marco Kelders ◽  
...  

Exercise training (ExTr) is largely used to improve functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, ExTr only partially restores muscle function in patients with COPD, suggesting that confounding factors may limit the efficiency of ExTr. In the present study, we hypothesized that skeletal muscle adaptations triggered by ExTr could be compromised in hypoxemic patients with COPD. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained from patients with COPD who were either normoxemic ( n = 15, resting arterial Po2 = 68.5 ± 1.5 mmHg) or hypoxemic ( n = 8, resting arterial Po2 = 57.0 ± 1.0 mmHg) before and after a 2-mo ExTr program. ExTr induced a significant increase in exercise capacity both in normoxemic and hypoxemic patients with COPD. However, ExTr increased citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activities only in skeletal muscle of normoxemic patients. Similarly, muscle fiber cross-sectional area and capillary-to-fiber ratio were increased only in patients who were normoxemic. Expression of atrogenes (MuRF1, MAFbx/Atrogin-1) and autophagy-related genes (Beclin, LC3, Bnip, Gabarapl) remained unchanged in both groups. Phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473), GSK-3β (Ser9), and p70S6k (Thr389) was nonsignificantly increased in normoxemic patients in response to ExTr, but it was significantly decreased in hypoxemic patients. We further showed on C2C12 myotubes that hypoxia completely prevented insulin-like growth factor-1-induced phosphorylation of Akt, GSK-3β, and p70S6K. Together, our observations suggest a role for hypoxemia in the adaptive response of skeletal muscle of patients with COPD in an ExTr program.


1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1211-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Nemeth ◽  
O H Lowry

An attempt was made to determine the relationship of myoglobin content to specific fiber types in human muscle. Biopsies were obtained from biceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius muscles of untrained subjects and from the vastus lateralis muscle of a highly trained athlete at peak training and at intervals of no training (detraining). Individual muscle fibers were assayed, by quantitative microanalytical methods, for myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, beta-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, and adenylokinase activities all on the same fiber. The enzyme levels were used to classify the fibers into type I or II. The results show that the content of myoglobin in human muscle does not differ greatly between fiber types in contrast to other species. The type II fibers contained, on the average, at least two-thirds as much myoglobin as type I fibers. The concentration of myoglobin did not change in either fiber type during detraining (84 days), despite marked changes in lactate dehydrogenase, adenylokinase and the three oxidative enzymes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document