珠江三角洲3种典型森林类型乔木叶片生态化学计量学

以珠江三角洲3种典型森林类型(常绿阔叶林、针阔混交林和针叶林)为研究对象, 分析了各类型优势乔木叶片C、N、P化学计量特征。结果显示, 所有研究个体叶片C、N、P含量范围分别为434-537、6.8-23.0和0.56-2.10 mg·g^-1, C:N、C:P和N:P的分布区间分别为 21.22-70.74、227.14-844.64和5.26-20.91, 且N与P之间、C:N与C:P之间具有较好的协同性。3种森林类型中, 针叶林乔木叶片C含量最大, 加权平均值为(517.85 ± 35.96) mg·g^-1, 其次是针阔混交林((509.47 ± 19.38) mg·g^-1), 常绿阔叶林最小((481.59 ± 18.35) mg·g^-1); 针叶林乔木叶片N含量((12.20 ± 5.65) mg·g^-1)最大, 其次是常绿阔叶林((11.50 ± 4.24) mg·g^-1), 针阔混交林((10.51 ± 5.22) mg·g^-1)最小; 各森林类型乔木叶片P含量大小顺序与C含量完全相反, 为常绿阔叶林((1.31 ± 0.48) mg·g^-1)>针阔混交林((0.96 ± 0.61) mg·g^-1)>针叶林((0.77 ± 0.40) mg·g^-1)。针阔混交林乔木叶片C:N (51.35 ± 13.65)最大, 针叶林(47.40 ± 15.85)其次, 常绿阔叶林(45.59 ± 14.70)最小; 各森林类型乔木叶片C:P和N:P大小顺序相同, 均为针叶林(727.47 ± 231.52、15.71 ± 3.76)>针阔混交林(553.01 ± 152.32、10.93 ± 1.89)>常绿阔叶林(412.19 ± 200.91、9.46 ± 4.28)。同时根据乔木叶片N:P还发现, 少数阔叶树种和常绿阔叶林生产力受到N素限制。     

超低温保存处理对水曲柳胚胎生理生化特征的影响

以合子胚作为保存材料,进一步分析超低温保存处理前后的水曲柳合子胚细胞各生理生化指标的变化情况,明确冷冻方式和脱水时间对生理生化指标的影响,为建立水曲柳优良遗传材料长期保存方法提供生理数据支撑。在脱水120 min条件下,合子胚经快冻法保存后,细胞内脱氢酶活性最高,同时过氧化氢酶活性、过氧化物酶活性、脯氨酸质量分数均达到最大值,分别为1 168.85 U·g^-1·min^-1、338.33 U·g^-1·min^-1、394.99μg·g^-1;经玻璃化法保存后,合子胚细胞内脱氢酶活性、脯氨酸含量、过氧化物酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性均为最小值;经慢冻法保存后,合子胚细胞内可溶性蛋白质量分数和超氧化物歧化酶活性均达到最大值,分别为18.82 mg·g^-1和361.97 U·g^-1,显著高于其他冷冻方法。干燥脱水120 min结合快冻法处理条件下,合子胚的活力达到最高值。研究结果表明,不同冷冻方式、不同脱水时间及二者的交互作用均会影响水曲柳合子胚的存活...     

圈养林麝社会等级与粪样类固醇激素水平的关系

动物社群的社会等级可对个体的资源分配、社群稳定及个体的行为对策产生重要影响,圈养动物的类固醇激素水平与饲养管理有关,可反映动物的社群紧张水平。深入理解圈养动物的社会等级与其类固醇激素水平的关系是进行濒危动物迁地保育和成功驯养的基础。2018年6月15日—8月15日,用焦点取样法对四川马尔康林麝繁育场的25头林麝进行了冲突行为取样及社会等级计算,采用放射免疫分析法检测了同期粪样的类固醇激素水平,分析了林麝社会等级与粪样皮质醇、睾酮及雌二醇水平的关系。结果表明:低等级雌麝的雌二醇水平(289.037±59.710 pg·g^-1,n=11)显著高于高等级雌麝(45.670±27.283pg·g^-1,n=6)(P<0.05),低等级雄麝的睾酮水平(3.863±1.538 ng·g^-1,n=3)和高等级雄麝(8.017±1.295 ng·g^-1,n=5)无显著差异(P>0.05);低等级雄麝(37.891±7.564 ng·g^-1,n=3)和雌麝(37.262±1.544 ng·g^-1,n=11)的皮质醇水平与高等级雄麝(29.947±2.441 ng·g^-1,n=5)及雌麝(37.478±4.628 ng·g^-1,n=6)间的差异不显著(P>0.05)。不区分性别,低等级林麝的皮质醇水平(37.397±1.826 ng·g^-1,n=14)和高等级个体(34.055±2.886ng·g^-1,n=11)间无显著差异(P>0.05)。研究结果表明,圈养林麝雌体的社会等级与其粪样雌二醇水平呈负相关,低等级雌麝的粪样雌二醇水平显著高于高等级雌麝。在麝类驯养实践中,可监测雌麝的社会等级和粪样雌二醇水平变化,预测雌麝的行为健康及繁殖成效。     

土壤细菌呼吸对西双版纳热带森林恢复的响应

揭示不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤细菌呼吸季节变化及其主控因素,对于探明土壤细菌呼吸对热带森林恢复的响应机制具有重要的科学意义。以西双版纳不同恢复阶段热带森林(白背桐群落、崖豆藤群落和高檐蒲桃群落)为研究对象,运用真菌呼吸抑制法及高通量宏基因组测序技术分别测定土壤细菌呼吸速率和细菌多样性,并采用回归分析及结构方程模型揭示热带森林恢复过程中土壤细菌多样性、pH、土壤碳氮组分变化对土壤细菌呼吸速率的影响特征。结果表明：1)不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤细菌呼吸速率表现为：高檐蒲桃群落((1.51±0.62)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)显著高于崖豆藤群落((1.16±0.56)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)和白背桐群落((0.82±0.60)CO₂ mg g^-1 h^-1)(P<0.05)。2)不同恢复阶段土壤细菌呼吸速率呈显著的单峰型季节变化(P<0.05),最大值均出现在9月：高檐蒲桃群落((...     

高产中性蛋白酶菌株的筛选、优化及中试放大

为筛选分离得到具有高产中性蛋白酶能力的菌株,同时研究菌株的发酵条件,在牛粪、猪粪堆肥时期采集样品,在以干酪素为唯一碳源的固体培养基上筛选分离得到19株产蛋白酶菌株。选取其中1株产酶效果最好的菌株PC2,其水解圈D/d值为4.25,酶活为10.74 U·mL^-1。结合形态学、生理生化以及16S rDNA分子生物学鉴定结果,认定其为枯草芽孢杆菌,革兰氏阳性菌。进一步对其进行摇瓶和中试放大条件优化,LB培养基37 ℃活化24 h,干酪素发酵培养基30 ℃发酵48 h,转速为180 r·min^-1。中试放大具体参数：50 L种子罐180~240 r·min^-1,通气量20~30 L·min^-1。500 L发酵罐：添加1%小麦蛋白粉,100~180 r·min^-1,通气量10~25 L·min^-1。发酵结束活菌含量44.58亿·mL^-1,酶活29.48 U·mL^-1,是初始值的2.745倍。研究结果可为探究含中性蛋白酶菌株的微生物菌剂奠定理论基础,并指导工业化菌剂的生产。     

西施舌的耗氧率与排氨率研究

采用室内实验生态学方法研究了不同栖息水温和不同溶解氧水平下处于标准代谢状态的西施舌耗氧率与排氨率,并测定了窒息点.结果表明,在25 ℃时,水中DO≥3.11±0.15 mg·L^-1时,西施舌的耗氧率和排氨率分别为0.7±0.05 mg·g^-1·h^-1和2.56±0.05 μmol·g^-1·h^-1,处于相对稳定状态;当DO低于此值则代谢出现异常,耗氧率随DO下降而下降,直到窒息为止,其窒息点为1.22±0.06 mg·L^-1,而排氨率也呈直线下降,但排氨停止滞后于耗氧停止.耗氧率与栖息水温呈二次线型关系:OCR=-0.0027T²+0.1367T-0.9557,R²=0.972;水温为25.3 ℃时,西施舌的耗氧率达到最大,为0.77 mg·g^-1·h^-1.处于适温状态(15 ℃和20 ℃)的O/N值要高于低温(10 ℃)和高温(25 ℃和30 ℃)时的O/N值,西施舌在适宜条件下更多地依赖于脂肪供能维持标准代谢,而在环境不适时则更多地调用机体的蛋白质来维持生理代谢需要.     

能量消耗C指标在评价乒乓球运动员多球练习中能量消耗的应用*

目的:研究周期类运动能量消耗^C指标在评价乒乓球多球练习中能量消耗应用的可行性。方法:11名某大学代表队的乒乓球运动员(18±1 yrs, 177±2 cm, 71±3 kg,运动水平≥二级)自愿参加了1次跑台递增负荷测试和2次(正手和反手)发球机多球递增频率测试(3 min × 6级,频率为35~85 stroke·min^-1)。用便携式气体代谢仪和心率监测仪检测3次测试的呼吸气体和心率,计算每种频率下每次击球所消耗的能量;采集运动前后的耳血进行血乳酸分析。结果:乒乓球前冲弧圈多球练习的能量消耗^C随击球频率的增加而下降(P＜0.05)。6种击球频率下,正手前冲弧圈的能量消耗^C都高于反手,且差异在35、45、55、65和85 stroke·min^-1时显著(P＜0.05)。能量消耗^C与频率的关系公式分别为y=166.4x^-0.731(R²=0.9731)和y=33.21x^-0.392(R²=0.8423),其中y为能量消耗^C(单位为J·stroke^-1·kg^-1),x为击球频率(单位为stroke·min^-1)。结论:周期类运动项目的能量消耗^C可应用于评价乒乓球运动员单一技术动作多球练习的能量消耗,反映乒乓球运动员在不同击球频率下的击球效率。     

巨桉人工林地土壤微生物类群的生态分布规律

研究了四川省洪雅县巨桉人工林地土壤微生物数量及其类群分布规律.结果表明,洪雅县巨桉人工林地土壤微生物数量具有明显的季节变化,各样地均以秋季最多,达到17.42×10⁶CFU·g^-1,春季次之,夏季最少.土壤微生物主要集中在0～20cm的土层,随着土层的加深,微生物数量迅速减少;在0～60cm土层,同一类群微生物数量变动范围较大,其中好气性细菌0.31×10⁶～14.39×10⁶CFU·g^-1,放线菌0.06×10⁶～0.79×10⁶CFU·g^-1,真菌0.02×10⁶～0.07×10⁶CFU·g^-1,厌氧细菌0.07×10⁶～3.22×10⁶CFU·g^-1.巨桉人工林地微生物以细菌为主要类群,占微生物总数的92.83%以上,其次是放线菌和真菌,其微生物组成结构合理.与青冈次生林和农耕地相比,巨桉人工林地微生物数量远远高于青冈次生林地,有利于土壤微生物生长.细菌生理类群的Simpson多样性指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分别达到0.773和1.896.     

风车草和香根草在人工湿地中迁移养分能力的比较研究

为研究风车草(Cyperus alternifolius)和香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides)迁移养分的能力,建立17.0m²风车草潜流式人工湿地和13.3 m²香根草潜流式人工湿地处理猪场废水,在四个季节末测定植物生物量和组织氮、磷、铜、锌含量.结果表明,香根草地下部生物量大于风车草,地上部生物量则是风车草大于香根草.风车草年地上部收获量为3406.47 g·m^-2,比香根草的1483.88 g·m^-2高2.3倍;风车草的氮含量为22.69 mg·g^-1,比香根草的15.44 mg·g^-1高7.25 mg·g^-1;风车草的磷含量为6.09 mg·g^-1,比香根草的5.47 mg·g^-1高0.62 mg·g^-1.植株含铜、锌量风车草略比香根草高.风车草每年迁移N 68.72 g·m^-2和P18.49 g·m^-2,香根草迁移N 8.93 g·m^-2和P 3.69 g·m^-2.风车草人工湿地每年由植物迁移的氮、磷、铜、锌比香根草高4～7倍.     

三江源区不同退化程度高寒草原土壤呼吸特征

为了研究高寒草原退化对土壤呼吸的影响, 对三江源区不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤呼吸进行了测定, 分析了土壤呼吸与生物量、土壤温度以及土壤湿度的相关性, 结果表明: 1)不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤呼吸均表现出一定的月动态, 这种月动态在不同退化程度间各有不同。2)高寒草原在退化演替序列上生长季平均土壤呼吸速率呈先增加后降低的变化趋势, 其中在中度退化程度下达到最高值((2.46 ± 0.27) μmol·m^-2·s^-1), 显著高于未退化((1.92 ± 0.11) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)和重度退化((1.30 ± 0.16) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)水平(p < 0.01), 与轻度退化((2.22 ± 0.19) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)无显著差异(p > 0.05), 重度退化程度下呼吸速率显著低于其他退化水平(p < 0.01)。3)地上生物量和土壤呼吸存在极显著线性正相关关系(p = 0.004), 而地下生物量与土壤呼吸的相关性不很显著(p = 0.056)。4)除重度退化外, 未退化、轻度退化和中度退化高寒草原土壤呼吸与土壤温度显著正相关; 土壤呼吸与土壤湿度的二项式拟合方程在轻度退化程度下达到显著水平(p < 0.05), 而在未退化、中度退化和重度退化程度下均达到极显著水平(p < 0.01)。     

Regulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow during exercise in humans

Regulation of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) remains poorly elucidated in humans, especially during exercise. In the present study we tested the role of adenosine in the regulation of ATBF adjacent to active and inactive thigh muscles during intermittent isometric knee-extension exercise (1 s contraction followed by 2 s rest with workloads of 50, 100, and 150 N) in six healthy young women. ATBF was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) without and with unspecific adenosine receptor inhibitor theophylline infused intravenously. Adipose regions were localized from fused PET and magnetic resonance images. Blood flow in subcutaneous adipose tissue adjacent to active muscle increased from rest (1.0 ± 0.3 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)) to exercise (P < 0.001) and along with increasing exercise intensity (50 N = 4.1 ± 1.4, 100 N = 5.4 ± 1.8, and 150 N = 6.9 ± 3.0 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1), P = 0.03 for the increase). In contrast, ATBF adjacent to inactive muscle remained at resting levels with all intensities (～1.0 ± 0.5 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1)). During exercise theophylline prevented the increase in ATBF adjacent to active muscle especially during the highest exercise intensity (50 N = 4.3 ± 1.8 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1), 100 N = 4.0 ± 1.5 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1), and 150 N = 4.9 ± 1.8 ml·100 g(-1)·min(-1), P = 0.06 for an overall effect) but had no effect on blood flow adjacent to inactive muscle or adipose blood flow in resting contralateral leg. In conclusion, we report in the present study that 1) blood flow in subcutaneous adipose tissue of the leg is increased from rest to exercise in an exercise intensity-dependent manner, but only in the vicinity of working muscle, and 2) adenosine receptor antagonism attenuates this blood flow enhancement at the highest exercise intensities.     

Effect of helium breathing on intercostal and quadriceps muscle blood flow during exercise in COPD patients

Emerging evidence indicates that, besides dyspnea relief, an improvement in locomotor muscle oxygen delivery may also contribute to enhanced exercise tolerance following normoxic heliox (replacement of inspired nitrogen by helium) administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether blood flow redistribution from intercostal to locomotor muscles contributes to this improvement currently remains unknown. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate whether such redistribution plays a role in improving locomotor muscle oxygen delivery while breathing heliox at near-maximal [75% peak work rate (WR(peak))], maximal (100%WR(peak)), and supramaximal (115%WR(peak)) exercise in COPD. Intercostal and vastus lateralis muscle perfusion was measured in 10 COPD patients (FEV(1) = 50.5 ± 5.5% predicted) by near-infrared spectroscopy using indocyanine green dye. Patients undertook exercise tests at 75 and 100%WR(peak) breathing either air or heliox and at 115%WR(peak) breathing heliox only. Patients did not exhibit exercise-induced hyperinflation. Normoxic heliox reduced respiratory muscle work and relieved dyspnea across all exercise intensities. During near-maximal exercise, quadriceps and intercostal muscle blood flows were greater, while breathing normoxic heliox compared with air (35.8 ± 7.0 vs. 29.0 ± 6.5 and 6.0 ± 1.3 vs. 4.9 ± 1.2 ml·min(-1)·100 g(-1), respectively; P < 0.05; mean ± SE). In addition, compared with air, normoxic heliox administration increased arterial oxygen content, as well as oxygen delivery to quadriceps and intercostal muscles (from 47 ± 9 to 60 ± 12, and from 8 ± 1 to 13 ± 3 mlO(2)·min(-1)·100 g(-1), respectively; P < 0.05). In contrast, normoxic heliox had neither an effect on systemic nor an effect on quadriceps or intercostal muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery during maximal or supramaximal exercise. Since intercostal muscle blood flow did not decrease by normoxic heliox administration, blood flow redistribution from intercostal to locomotor muscles does not represent a likely mechanism of improvement in locomotor muscle oxygen delivery. Our findings might not be applicable to patients who hyperinflate during exercise.     

Prior eccentric exercise reduces v[combining dot above]o2peak and ventilatory threshold but does not alter movement economy during cycling exercise

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has been shown to reduce force production and result in delayed-onset soreness and pain in the damaged muscle(s). Cycling in the presence of EIMD reduces peak power output and time-trial performance. However, its effect on peak aerobic capacity has not been widely studied. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of EIMD targeted specifically to the quadriceps muscle group on peak oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) during cycling. Ten participants (4 men, 6 women) completed a V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak test on a cycle ergometer before and 48 hours after performing 24 eccentric contractions with their right and left quadriceps with a weight equal to 120% of 1-repetition maximal concentric strength (1RM). The EIMD was assessed using 1RM, and muscle soreness was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale. The presence of EIMD was confirmed by a 9% reduction in 1RM (p = 0.0001) and increased ratings of soreness from 2.4 ± 2.1 to 24.6 ± 10.8 mm (p = 0.001). The V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was reduced from 46.2 ± 9.7 to 41.8 ± 10.7 ml·kg·min (10%; p = 0.01) with participants terminating exercise at lower heart rates 191 ± 9 vs. 186 ± 10 b·min (p = 0.02) and power output 248 ± 79 vs. 238 ± 81 W (p = 0.02) after EIMD. Additionally, ventilatory threshold decreased from 34.2 ± 7.8 to 30.5 ± 8.5 ml·kg·min (11%; p = 0.031). Despite the reduction in V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak, cycling economy (p = 0.17) did not differ pre-EIMD and post-EIMD. These findings indicate that EIMD reduced peak aerobic exercise capacity to an extent that could result in meaningful reductions in exercise performance. The reduction is likely attributable to a combination of reduced strength, earlier accumulation of lactic acid, and heightened muscle pain during exercise.     

Aerobic exercise reduces neuronal responses in food reward brain regions

Acute exercise suppresses ad libitum energy intake, but little is known about the effects of exercise on food reward brain regions. After an overnight fast, 30 (17 men, 13 women), healthy, habitually active (age = 22.2 ± 0.7 yr, body mass index = 23.6 ± 0.4 kg/m(2), Vo(2peak) = 44.2 ± 1.5 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1)) individuals completed 60 min of exercise on a cycle ergometer or 60 min of rest (no-exercise) in a counterbalanced, crossover fashion. After each condition, blood oxygen level-dependent responses to high-energy food, low-energy food, and control visual cues, were measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Exercise, compared with no-exercise, significantly (P < 0.005) reduced the neuronal response to food (high and low food) cues vs. control cues in the insula (-0.37 ± 0.13 vs. +0.07 ± 0.18%), putamen (-0.39 ± 0.10 vs. -0.10 ± 0.09%), and rolandic operculum (-0.37 ± 0.17 vs. 0.17 ± 0.12%). Exercise alone significantly (P < 0.005) reduced the neuronal response to high food vs. control and low food vs. control cues in the inferior orbitofrontal cortex (-0.94 ± 0.33%), insula (-0.37 ± 0.13%), and putamen (-0.41 ± 0.10%). No-exercise alone significantly (P < 0.005) reduced the neuronal response to high vs. control and low vs. control cues in the middle (-0.47 ± 0.15%) and inferior occipital gyrus (-1.00 ± 0.23%). Exercise reduced neuronal responses in brain regions consistent with reduced pleasure of food, reduced incentive motivation to eat, and reduced anticipation and consumption of food. Reduced neuronal response in these food reward brain regions after exercise is in line with the paradigm that acute exercise suppresses subsequent energy intake.     

Single-leg cycle training is superior to double-leg cycling in improving the oxidative potential and metabolic profile of trained skeletal muscle

Single-leg cycling may enhance the peripheral adaptations of skeletal muscle to a greater extent than double-leg cycling. The purpose of the current study was to determine the influence of 3 wk of high-intensity single- and double-leg cycle training on markers of oxidative potential and muscle metabolism and exercise performance. In a crossover design, nine trained cyclists (78 ± 7 kg body wt, 59 ± 5 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1) maximal O(2) consumption) performed an incremental cycling test and a 16-km cycling time trial before and after 3 wk of double-leg and counterweighted single-leg cycle training (2 training sessions per week). Training involved three (double) or six (single) maximal 4-min intervals with 6 min of recovery. Mean power output during the single-leg intervals was more than half that during the double-leg intervals (198 ± 29 vs. 344 ± 38 W, P < 0.05). Skeletal muscle biopsy samples from the vastus lateralis revealed a training-induced increase in Thr(172)-phosphorylated 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase α-subunit for both groups (P < 0.05). However, the increase in cytochrome c oxidase subunits II and IV and GLUT-4 protein concentration was greater following single- than double-leg cycling (P < 0.05). Training-induced improvements in maximal O(2) consumption (3.9 ± 6.2% vs. 0.6 ± 3.6%) and time-trial performance (1.3 ± 0.5% vs. 2.3 ± 4.2%) were similar following both interventions. We conclude that short-term high-intensity single-leg cycle training can elicit greater enhancement in the metabolic and oxidative potential of skeletal muscle than traditional double-leg cycling. Single-leg cycling may therefore provide a valuable training stimulus for trained and clinical populations.     

Hyperbaric hyperoxia reduces exercising forearm blood flow in humans

Hypoxia during exercise augments blood flow in active muscles to maintain the delivery of O(2) at normoxic levels. However, the impact of hyperoxia on skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise is not completely understood. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the hyperemic response to forearm exercise during hyperbaric hyperoxia would be blunted compared with exercise during normoxia. Seven subjects (6 men/1 woman; 25 ± 1 yr) performed forearm exercise (20% of maximum) under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions. Forearm blood flow (FBF; in ml/min) was measured using Doppler ultrasound. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC; in ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1)) was calculated from FBF and blood pressure (in mmHg; brachial arterial catheter). Studies were performed in a hyperbaric chamber with the subjects supine at 1 atmospheres absolute (ATA) (sea level) while breathing normoxic gas [21% O(2), 1 ATA; inspired Po(2) (Pi(O(2))) ≈ 150 mmHg] and at 2.82 ATA while breathing hyperbaric normoxic (7.4% O(2), 2.82 ATA, Pi(O(2)) ≈ 150 mmHg) and hyperoxic (100% O(2), 2.82 ATA, Pi(O(2)) ≈ 2,100 mmHg) gas. Resting FBF and FVC were less during hyperbaric hyperoxia compared with hyperbaric normoxia (P < 0.05). The change in FBF and FVC (Δ from rest) during exercise under normoxia (204 ± 29 ml/min and 229 ± 37 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1), respectively) and hyperbaric normoxia (203 ± 28 ml/min and 217 ± 35 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1), respectively) did not differ (P = 0.66-0.99). However, the ΔFBF (166 ± 21 ml/min) and ΔFVC (163 ± 23 ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1)) during hyperbaric hyperoxia were substantially attenuated compared with other conditions (P < 0.01). Our data suggest that exercise hyperemia in skeletal muscle is highly dependent on oxygen availability during hyperoxia.     

Muscle cellular properties in the ice hockey player: a model for investigating overtraining?

In this study, we hypothesized that athletes involved in 5-6 months of sprint-type training would display higher levels of proteins and processes involved in muscle energy supply and utilization. Tissue was sampled from the vastus lateralis of 13 elite ice hockey players (peak oxygen consumption = 51.8 ± 1.3 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1); mean ± standard error) at the end of a season (POST) and compared with samples from 8 controls (peak oxygen consumption = 45.5 ± 1.4 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) (CON). Compared with CON, higher activities were observed in POST (p < 0.05) only for succinic dehydrogenase (3.32 ± 0.16 mol·(mg protein)(-1)·min(-1) vs. 4.10 ± 0.11 mol·(mg protein)(-1)·min(-1)) and hexokinase (0.73 ± 0.05 mol·(mg protein)(-1)·min(-1) vs. 0.90 ± 0.05mol·(mg protein)(-1)·min(-1)) but not for phosphorylase, phosphofructokinase, and creatine phosphokinase. No differences were found in Na(+),K(+)-ATPase concentration (β(max): 262 ± 36 pmol·(g wet weight)(-1) vs. 275 ± 27 pmol·(g wet weight)(-1)) and the maximal activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (98.1 ± 6.1 μmol·(g protein)(-1)·min(-1) vs. 102 ± 3.3 μmol·(g protein)(-1)·min(-1)). Cross-sectional area was lower (p < 0.05) in POST but only for the type IIA fibres (6312 ± 684 μm(2) vs. 5512 ± 335 μm(2)), while the number of capillary counts per fibre and the capillary to fibre area ratio were generally higher (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that elite trained ice hockey players display elevations only in support of glucose-based aerobic metabolism that occur in the absence of alterations in excitation-contraction processes.     

Resistance and aerobic exercise: the influence of mode on the relationship between IL-6 and glucose tolerance in young men who are obese

Regular exercise lowers indicators of disease risk including some inflammatory cytokines; however, the relationship between different modes of acute exercise, cytokine levels, and subsequent glucose tolerance is unclear. The purpose was to determine the effects of resistance (RES) and aerobic (AER) exercises on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its association with glucose tolerance 24 hours after exercise. After testing for 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and VO2peak, 10 obese (body mass index > 30 kg · m(-2)), untrained men aged 18-26 years completed 3 protocols: 60 minutes of RES, AER, and a resting (CON) condition. The RES was 2 sets of 8 repetitions and a third set to fatigue at 80% 1RM of 8 lifts using all major muscle groups. The AER was 60 minutes of cycling at 70% of VO2peak. On day 1, subjects completed the 60-minute exercise or resting protocol, and on day 2, they completed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Blood was collected before and after exercise, at 2 and 7 hour postexercise, and before and every 30 minutes during the OGTT and was analyzed for IL-6, glucose and insulin. Postexercise IL-6 was greater in RES (8.01 ± 2.08 pg · mL(-1)) vs. in AER (4.26 ± 0.27 pg · mL(-1)), and both were greater than in CON (1.61 ± 0.18 pg · mL(-1)). During the OGTT, there were no differences in glucose or insulin between conditions for single time points or as area under the curve. The RES caused greater IL-6 levels immediately after exercise that may be related to the greater active muscle mass compared to AER. Neither exercise produced enhanced glucose removal compared to control; thus, despite the greater elevation in IL-6 in RES, for these exercise conditions and this population, this cytokine did not influence glucose tolerance.     

Effect of carbohydrate intake on net muscle protein synthesis during recovery from resistance exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ingestion of 100 g of carbohydrates on net muscle protein balance (protein synthesis minus protein breakdown) after resistance exercise. Two groups of eight subjects performed a resistance exercise bout (10 sets of 8 repetitions of leg presses at 80% of 1-repetition maximum) before they rested in bed for 4 h. One group (CHO) received a drink consisting of 100 g of carbohydrates 1 h postexercise. The other group (Pla) received a noncaloric placebo drink. Leg amino acid metabolism was determined by infusion of 2H5- or 13C6-labeled phenylalanine, sampling from femoral artery and vein, and muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis. Drink intake did not affect arterial insulin concentration in Pla, whereas insulin increased several times after the drink in CHO (P < 0.05 vs. Pla). Arterial phenylalanine concentration fell slightly after the drink in CHO. Net muscle protein balance between synthesis and breakdown did not change in Pla, whereas it improved in CHO from -17 +/- 3 nmol.ml(-1).100 ml leg(-1) before drink to an average of -4 +/- 4 and 0 +/- 3 nmol.ml(-1).100 ml leg(-1) during the second and third hour after the drink, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. Pla during last hour). The improved net balance in CHO was due primarily to a progressive decrease in muscle protein breakdown. We conclude that ingestion of carbohydrates improved net leg protein balance after resistance exercise. However, the effect was minor and delayed compared with the previously reported effect of ingestion of amino acids.     

Evidence that a higher ATP cost of muscular contraction contributes to the lower mechanical efficiency associated with COPD: preliminary findings

Impaired metabolism in peripheral skeletal muscles potentially contributes to exercise intolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We used (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) to examine the energy cost and skeletal muscle energetics in six patients with COPD during dynamic plantar flexion exercise compared with six well-matched healthy control subjects. Patients with COPD displayed a higher energy cost of muscle contraction compared with the controls (control: 6.1 ± 3.1% of rest·min(-1)·W(-1), COPD: 13.6 ± 8.3% of rest·min(-1)·W(-1), P = 0.01). Although, the initial phosphocreatine resynthesis rate was also significantly attenuated in patients with COPD compared with controls (control: 74 ± 17% of rest/min, COPD: 52 ± 13% of rest/min, P = 0.04), when scaled to power output, oxidative ATP synthesis was similar between groups (6.5 ± 2.3% of rest·min(-1)·W(-1) in control and 7.8 ± 3.9% of rest·min(-1)·W(-1) in COPD, P = 0.52). Therefore, our results reveal, for the first time that in a small subset of patients with COPD a higher ATP cost of muscle contraction may substantially contribute to the lower mechanical efficiency previously reported in this population. In addition, it appears that some patients with COPD have preserved mitochondrial function and normal energy supply in lower limb skeletal muscle.