scholarly journals Muscle Fiber Type Transitions with Exercise Training: Shifting Perspectives

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Plotkin ◽  
Michael D. Roberts ◽  
Cody T. Haun ◽  
Brad J. Schoenfeld

Human muscle fibers are generally classified by myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms characterized by slow to fast contractile speeds. Type I, or slow-twitch fibers, are seen in high abundance in elite endurance athletes, such as long-distance runners and cyclists. Alternatively, fast-twitch IIa and IIx fibers are abundant in elite power athletes, such as weightlifters and sprinters. While cross-sectional comparisons have shown marked differences between athletes, longitudinal data have not clearly converged on patterns in fiber type shifts over time, particularly between slow and fast fibers. However, not all fiber type identification techniques are created equal and, thus, may limit interpretation. Hybrid fibers, which express more than one MHC type (I/IIa, IIa/IIx, I/IIa/IIx), may make up a significant proportion of fibers. The measurement of the distribution of fibers would necessitate the ability to identify hybrid fibers, which is best done through single fiber analysis. Current evidence using the most appropriate techniques suggests a clear ability of fibers to shift between hybrid and pure fibers as well as between slow and fast fiber types. The context and extent to which this occurs, along with the limitations of current evidence, are discussed herein.

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A.M. Korfage ◽  
T.M.G.J. Van Eijden

In this study we compared the immunohistochemically quantified fiber type area with the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) contents of a bundle of fibers from a human masticatory muscle. The total cross-sectional areas were determined immunohistochemically for the three major fiber types (I, IIA, and IIX) in bundles of fibers ( n = 42) taken from the anterior and posterior belly of the human digastric muscle ( n = 7). The relative MyHC contents of the same fiber bundles were determined electrophoretically (MyHC-I, -IIA, and -IIX; anterior, 32%, 35%, and 33%; posterior, 39%, 42%, and 19%) and compared with the immunohistochemical data (MyHC-I, -IIA, and -IIX; anterior, 32%, 31%, and 37%; posterior, 39%, 45%, and 15%). No significant differences were seen in the mean fiber type distribution between the two techniques; the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.71 to 0.96. The correlation coefficient was higher for MyHC type I and MyHC type IIX than for MyHC type IIA. The MyHC contents of single fibers taken from the posterior belly indicated that many fibers in this belly co-express MyHC-IIA and MyHC-IIX. Despite the presence of these hybrid fibers, the correspondence between both methods was relatively large.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 558-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Gardiner ◽  
B. J. Jasmin ◽  
P. Corriveau

Our aim was to quantify the overload-induced hypertrophy and conversion of fiber types (type II to I) occurring in the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle (MG). Overload of MG was induced by a bilateral tenotomy/retraction of synergists, followed by 12–18 wk of regular treadmill locomotion (2 h of walking/running per day on 3 of 4 days). We counted all type I fibers and determined type I and II mean fiber areas in eight equidistant sections taken along the length of control and overloaded MG. Increase in muscle weights (31%), as well as in total muscle cross-sectional areas (37%) and fiber areas (type I, 57%; type II, 34%), attested to a significant hypertrophic response in overloaded MG. An increase in type I fiber composition of MG from 7.0 to 11.5% occurred as a result of overload, with the greatest and only statistically significant changes (approximately 70–100%) being found in sections taken from the most rostral 45% of the muscle length. Results of analysis of sections taken from the largest muscle girth showed that it significantly underestimated the extent of fiber conversion that occurred throughout the muscle as a whole. These data obtained on the MG, which possesses a compartmentalization of fiber types, support the notion that all fiber types respond to this model with a similar degree of hypertrophy. Also, they emphasize the complex nature of the adaptive changes that occur in these types of muscles as a result of overload.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (5) ◽  
pp. R1093-R1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Powers ◽  
D. Criswell ◽  
F. K. Lieu ◽  
S. Dodd ◽  
H. Silverman

Limited data exist concerning the effects of exercise training on cellular oxidative capacity in the diaphragm of senescent animals. In this study we examined the changes in cellular oxidative capacity, muscle cell cross-sectional area (CSA), and capillarity within the costal diaphragm of senescent animals after a 10-wk endurance-training program. Twelve 24-mo-old female Fischer 344 rats were divided into either a sedentary control group (n = 6) or exercise training group (n = 6). The trained animals exercised on a motor-driven treadmill (60 min/day, 5 days/wk) at a work rate equal to approximately 55-65% VO2max. Capillaries were identified histologically and fiber types determined using adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) histochemistry. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and CSA in individual fibers were measured using a computerized image analysis system. Exercise training did not increase (P > 0.05) the capillary-to-fiber ratio for any fiber type. However, training significantly decreased CSA (P < 0.05) and increased capillary density (capillary number/CSA) (P < 0.05) in type I, type IIa, and type IIb fibers. Furthermore, exercise training resulted in small but significant increase in SDH activity (P < 0.05) in type I and IIa fibers, whereas training did not alter SDH activity (P > 0.05) in type IIb fibers. These data demonstrate that endurance training in senescent animals results in small relative improvements in both oxidative capacity and capillary density in costal diaphragmatic type I and IIa muscle fibers. The increase in both capillary density and fiber SDH activity was largely due to a reduction in fiber CSA.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (2) ◽  
pp. H368-H374 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. H. Sarelius ◽  
L. C. Maxwell ◽  
S. D. Gray ◽  
B. R. Duling

We determined muscle fiber type and capillarity in cremaster muscle samples from rats and hamsters of different ages. Histochemical estimation of oxidative capacity was made from the activity of either nicotinamide dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR) or succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), and fibers were termed fast or slow from myofibrillar ATPase activity. Fibers were classified as type I (low ATPase, high NADH-TR/SDH), type IIa (high ATPase, high SDH/NADH-TR), type IIb (high ATPase, low SDH/NADH-TR), or type IIc (no acid reversal of ATPase, high NADH-TR). Type IIb fibers accounted for 60-80% of the muscle area in both species at all ages. The principal change with maturation was muscle fiber hypertrophy. Mean cross-sectional fiber area increased from 488 +/- 70 (SE) and 453 +/- 19 micron2 in young hamsters and rats, respectively, to 1,255 +/- 99 and 1,540 +/- 101 micron2 in adults. Capillary density (no. of capillaries/mm2 tissue) paralleled fiber hypertrophy; it decreased significantly with maturation from 684 +/- 60 (SE) to 228 +/- 26/mm2 in hamsters and from 341 +/- 15 to 213 +/- 15/mm2 in rats. In vitro estimates of capillary density are compared with previously obtained in vivo data (31), and sources of error are identified. We conclude that reported differences in microvascular function in the cremaster muscle in vivo during maturation or between species cannot be ascribed to changes in muscle composition.


1998 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1776-1787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Fitts ◽  
Sue C. Bodine ◽  
Janell G. Romatowski ◽  
Jeffrey J. Widrick

In this study, we determined the contractile properties of single chemically skinned fibers prepared from the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (Sol) muscles of adult male rhesus monkeys and assessed the effects of the spaceflight living facility known as the experiment support primate facility (ESOP). Muscle biopsies were obtained 4 wk before and immediately after an 18-day ESOP sit, and fiber type was determined by immunohistochemical techniques. The MG slow type I fiber was significantly smaller than the MG type II, Sol type I, and Sol type II fibers. The ESOP sit caused a significant reduction in the diameter of type I and type I/II (hybrid) fibers of Sol and MG type II and hybrid fibers but no shift in fiber type distribution. Single-fiber peak force (mN and kN/m2) was similar between fiber types and was not significantly different from values previously reported for other species. The ESOP sit significantly reduced the force (mN) of Sol type I and MG type II fibers. This decline was entirely explained by the atrophy of these fiber types because the force per cross-sectional area (kN/m2) was not altered. Peak power of Sol and MG fast type II fiber was 5 and 8.5 times that of slow type I fiber, respectively. The ESOP sit reduced peak power by 25 and 18% in Sol type I and MG type II fibers, respectively, and, for the former fiber type, shifted the force-pCa relationship to the right, increasing the Ca2+ activation threshold and the free Ca2+concentration, eliciting half-maximal activation. The ESOP sit had no effect on the maximal shortening velocity ( V o) of any fiber type. V o of the hybrid fibers was only slightly higher than that of slow type I fibers. This result supports the hypothesis that in hybrid fibers the slow myosin heavy chain would be expected to have a disproportionately greater influence on V o.


2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (5) ◽  
pp. E818-E824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D. Cartee ◽  
Edward B. Arias ◽  
Carmen S. Yu ◽  
Mark W. Pataky

One exercise session can induce subsequently elevated insulin sensitivity that is largely attributable to greater insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by skeletal muscle. Because skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous tissue comprised of diverse fiber types, our primary aim was to determine exercise effects on insulin-independent and insulin-dependent glucose uptake by single fibers of different fiber types. We hypothesized that each fiber type featuring elevated insulin-independent glucose uptake immediately postexercise (IPEX) would be characterized by increased insulin-dependent glucose uptake at 3.5 h postexercise (3.5hPEX). Rat epitrochlearis muscles were isolated and incubated with 2-[3H]deoxyglucose. Muscles from IPEX and sedentary (SED) controls were incubated without insulin. Muscles from 3.5hPEX and SED controls were incubated ± insulin. Glucose uptake (2-[3H]deoxyglucose accumulation) and fiber type (myosin heavy chain isoform expression) were determined for single fibers dissected from the muscles. Major new findings included the following: 1) insulin-independent glucose uptake was increased IPEX in single fibers of each fiber type (types I, IIA, IIB, IIBX, and IIX), 2) glucose uptake values from insulin-stimulated type I and IIA fibers exceeded the values for the other fiber types, 3) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake for type IIX exceeded IIB fibers, and 4) the 3.5hPEX group vs. SED had greater insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in type I, IIA, IIB, and IIBX but not type IIX fibers. Insulin-dependent glucose uptake was increased at 3.5hPEX in each fiber type except for IIX fibers, although insulin-independent glucose uptake was increased IPEX in all fiber types (including type IIX). Single fiber analysis enabled the discovery of this fiber type-related difference for postexercise, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.


2002 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R.M. Mcguigan ◽  
William J. Kraemer ◽  
Michael R. Deschenes ◽  
Scott E. Gordon ◽  
Takashi Kitaura ◽  
...  

Previous research has indicated that 50 fiber measurements per individual for type I and II fibers would be sufficient to characterize the fiber areas. This study replicated the work of McCall et al. (1998) using the three major fiber types (I, IIA, and IIB) and sampling larger populations of fibers. Random blocks of fibers were also examined to investigate how well they correlated with the overall mean average fiber area. Using random blocks of 50 fibers provided an accurate reflection of the type IIB fibers (r = 0.96-0.98) but not for the type I (r = 0.85-0.94) or IIA fibers (r = 0.80-0.91). Type I fibers were consistently reflected by a random block of 150 fibers (r = 0.95-0.98) while type IIA fibers required random blocks of 200 fibers (r = 0.94-0.98), which appeared to provide an accurate reflection of the cross-sectional area. These results indicate that for a needle biopsy different numbers of fibers are needed depending on the fiber type to accurately characterize the mean fiber population. Key words: fiber type, sample size, cross-sectional area, biopsy


1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 634-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland R. Roy ◽  
Steven R. Monke ◽  
David L. Allen ◽  
V. Reggie Edgerton

The effects of 10 wk of functional overload (FO), with and without daily treadmill endurance training, on the cross-sectional area, myonuclear number, and myonuclear domain size of mechanically isolated single fiber segments of the adult rat plantaris were determined. The fibers were typed on the basis of high-resolution gel electrophoresis for separation of specific myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and grouped as type I+ (containing some type I MHC with or without any combination of fast MHCs), type IIa+ (containing some type IIa with or without some type IIx and/or IIb but no type I MHC), and type IIx/b (containing only type IIx and/or IIb MHCs). Type I+ fibers had a higher myonuclear number than did both fast types of fibers in the control and FO, but not in the FO and treadmill trained, rats. All fiber types in both FO groups had a significantly larger (36–90%) cross-sectional area and a significantly higher (61–109%) myonuclear number than did control. The average myonuclear domain size of each fiber type was similar among the three groups, except for a smaller domain size in the type IIx/b fibers of the FO compared with control. In general, these data indicate that during hypertrophy the number of myonuclei increase proportionally to the increase in fiber volume. The maintenance of myonuclear domain size near control values suggests that regulatory mechanisms exist that ensure a tight coupling between the quantity of genetic machinery and the protein requirements of a fiber.


2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1617-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharathi Aravamudan ◽  
Carlos B. Mantilla ◽  
Wen-Zhi Zhan ◽  
Gary C. Sieck

Denervation (DNV) of rat diaphragm muscle (DIAm) leads to selective atrophy of type IIx and IIb fibers, whereas the cross-sectional area of type I and IIa fibers remains unchanged or slightly hypertrophied. DIAm DNV also increases satellite cell mitotic activity and myonuclear apoptosis. Similar to other skeletal muscles, DIAm fibers are multinucleated, and each myonucleus regulates the gene products in a finite fiber volume, i.e., myonuclear domain (MND). MND size varies across DIAm fiber types in rank order, I < IIa < IIx < IIb [fiber type based on myosin heavy chain isoform expression]. We hypothesized that, after DNV, the total number of myonuclei per fiber does not change and, accordingly, that MND changes proportionately to the change in fiber size regardless of fiber type. Adult rats underwent unilateral (right side) DIAm DNV, and after 2 wk single fibers were dissected. Fiber cross-sectional area, myonuclear number, and MND were measured by confocal microscopy, and these values in DNV DIAm were compared with those obtained in controls. After DNV, type I fibers hypertrophied, type IIa fiber size was unchanged, and type IIx and IIb fibers atrophied compared with control. The total number of myonuclei per fiber was not affected by DNV. Accordingly, after DNV, type I fiber MND increased by 25%, whereas it decreased in type IIx and IIb fibers by 50 and 70%, respectively. These results suggest that MND is not maintained after DNV-induced DIAm fiber hypertrophy or atrophy. These results are interpreted with respect to consequent effects of DNV on myonuclear transcriptional activity and protein turnover.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 2005-2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori W. Smith ◽  
John D. Smith ◽  
David S. Criswell

The purpose of this study was to determine the necessity of nitric oxide (NO) for hypertrophy and fiber-type transition in overloaded (OL) skeletal muscle. Endogenous NO production was blocked by administering N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 0.75 mg/ml; ∼100 mg · kg−1 · day−1) in drinking water. Thirty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats (∼250 g) were randomly divided into four groups: control-nonoverloaded (Non-OL), control-OL, l-NAME-Non-OL, andl-NAME-OL. Chronic overload of the plantaris was induced bilaterally by surgical removal of the gastrocnemius and soleus. Rats in the Non-OL groups received sham surgeries. l-NAME treatment began 24 h before surgery and continued until the rats were killed 14 days postsurgery. Although OL induced hypertrophy in both control (+76%) and l-NAME (+39%) conditions ( P < 0.05), mean plantaris-to-body mass ratio in thel-NAME-OL group was significantly lower ( P< 0.05) than that in the control-OL group. Microphotometric analysis of histochemically determined fiber types revealed increases in cross-sectional area ( P < 0.05) for all fiber types (types I, IIA, and IIB/X) in the OL plantaris from control rats, whereas l-NAME-OL rats exhibited increases only in type I and IIB/X fibers. SDS-PAGE analysis of myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition in the plantaris indicated a significant ( P< 0.05) OL effect in the control rats. Specifically, the mean proportion of type I MHC increased 6% ( P < 0.05), whereas the proportion of type IIb MHC decreased ∼9% ( P < 0.05). No significant OL effects on MHC profile were observed in the l-NAME rats. These data support a role of NO in overload-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy and fiber-type transition.


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