Effect of epinephrine on muscle glycogenolysis during exercise in trained men

Febbraio, M. A., D. L. Lambert, R. L. Starkie, J. Proietto,and M. Hargreaves. Effect of epinephrine on muscle glycogenolysis during exercise in trained men. J. Appl.Physiol. 84(2): 465-470, 1998.To test thehypothesis that an elevation in circulating epinephrine increasesintramuscular glycogen utilization, six endurance-trained men performedtwo 40-min cycling trials at 71 ± 2% of peak oxygen uptake in20-22°C conditions. On the first occasion, subjects wereinfused with saline throughout exercise (Con). One week later, afterdetermination of plasma epinephrine levels in Con, subjects performedthe second trial (Epi) with an epinephrine infusion, which resulted ina twofold higher (P < 0.01) plasmaepinephrine concentration in Epi compared with Con. Although oxygenuptake was not different when the two trials were compared, respiratoryexchange ratio was higher throughout exercise in Epi compared with Con(0.93 ± 0.01 vs. 0.89 ± 0.01; P < 0.05). Muscle glycogenconcentration was not different when the trials were comparedpreexercise, but the postexercise value was lower(P < 0.01) in Epi compared with Con.Thus net muscle glycogen utilization was greater during exercise withepinephrine infusion (224 ± 37 vs. 303 ± 30 mmol/kg for Con andEpi, respectively; P < 0.01). Inaddition, both muscle and plasma lactate and plasma glucoseconcentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in Epi compared with Con. These data indicate that intramuscularglycogen utilization, glycolysis, and carbohydrate oxidation areaugmented by elevated epinephrine during submaximal exercise in trainedmen.

     

Utilization of glycogen but not plasma glucose is reduced in individuals with NIDDM during mild-intensity exercise

Colberg, Sheri R., James M. Hagberg, Steve D. McCole, JosephM. Zmuda, Paul D. Thompson, and David E. Kelley. Utilization ofglycogen but not plasma glucose is reduced in individuals with NIDDMduring mild-intensity exercise. J. Appl.Physiol. 81(4): 2027-2033, 1996.To test thehypothesis that substrate utilization during mild-intensity exercisediffers in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) comparedwith nondiabetic subjects, seven lean healthy subjects (L), seven obesehealthy subjects (O), and seven individuals with NIDDM were studiedduring 40 min of mild-intensity cycling (40% of peakO₂ uptake). Systemic utilization of plasma glucose (Glc Rd) was determined by using isotope dilution methods. Gas exchange was measured to determine rates of carbohydrate (CHO) and lipid oxidation. During exercise, when CHOoxidation was greater than Glc Rd, the net oxidation of glycogen wascalculated as the difference: CHO oxidation  Glc Rd. Duringmild-intensity cycling, the respiratory exchange ratio was similaracross groups (0.87 ± 0.02, 0.85 ± 0.02, and 0.86 ± 0.01 inL, O, and NIDDM subjects, respectively), and CHO oxidation accountedfor one-half of total energy expenditure during exercise. Glc Rdincreased during exercise and was greatest in subjects with NIDDM (3.0 ± 0.2, 2.9 ± 0.2, and 4.5 ± 0.4 ml ^· kg^{1 ·} min¹in L, O, and NIDDM subjects, respectively,P < 0.05), yet Glc Rd wasless than CHO oxidation during exercise, indicating net oxidation ofglycogen. Glycogen oxidation was greater in L and O than in NIDDMsubjects (3.4 ± 1.0, 2.5 ± 0.9, and 1.7 ± 0.8 ml ^· kg^{1 ·} min¹;P < 0.05). In summary, duringmild-intensity exercise, NIDDM subjects have an increased Glc Rd and adecreased oxidation of muscle glycogen.

     

Sympathetic drive to liver and nonhepatic splanchnic tissue during heavy exercise

Coker, Robert H., Mahesh G. Krishna, D. Brooks Lacy, Eric J. Allen, and David H. Wasserman. Sympathetic drive to liver andnonhepatic splanchnic tissue during heavy exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(4): 1244-1249, 1997.Thecontribution of sympathetic drive and vascular catecholamine deliveryto the splanchnic bed during heavy exercise was studied in dogs thatunderwent a laparotomy during which flow probes were implanted onto theportal vein and hepatic artery and catheters were inserted into thecarotid artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein. At least 16 days aftersurgery, dogs completed a 20-min heavy exercise protocol (mean workrate of 5.7 ± 1 miles/h, 20 ± 2% grade). Arterial epinephrine(Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) increased by ~500 and ~900 pg/ml,respectively, after 20 min of heavy exercise. Because Epi is notreleased from the splanchnic bed and because Epi fractional extraction(FX) = NE FX, NE uptake by splanchnic tissue can be calculated despite simultaneous release of NE. Basal nonhepatic splanchnic (NHS) FXincreased from a basal rate of 0.52 ± 0.09 to a peak of 0.64 ± 0.05 at 10 min of exercise. Hepatic Epi FX increased froma basal rate of 0.68 ± 0.10 to 0.81 ± 0.09 at 20 min of exercise. Even though NHS extraction of Epi reduced portal veinEpi levels by ~60%, the release of NE from NHS tissue maintainedportal vein NE at levels similar to those in arterial blood. NHS NEspillover increased from a basal rate of 5.7 ± 1.4 to 11.7 ± 2.8 ng · kg¹ · min¹at 20 min of exercise. Hepatic NE spillover increased from a basal rateof 5.0 ± 1.2 ng · kg¹ · min¹to a peak of 14.2 ± 2.8 ng · kg¹ · min¹at 15 min of exercise. These results show that1) approximately two- and threefoldincreases in NHS and hepatic NE spillover occur during heavy exercise,demonstrating that sympathetic drive to these tissues contributes tothe increase in circulating NE; 2) the high catecholamine FX by the NHS tissues results in an Epi level atthe liver that is considerably lower than that in the arterial blood;and 3) circulating NE delivery tothe liver is sustained despite high catecholamine FX due tosimultaneous NHS NE release.

     

Metabolic and exercise endurance effects of coffee and caffeine ingestion

Caffeine (Caf) ingestion increases plasmaepinephrine (Epi) and exercise endurance; these results are frequentlytransferred to coffee (Cof) consumption. We examined theimpact of ingestion of the same dose of Caf in Cof or in water. Ninehealthy, fit, young adults performed five trials after ingesting(double blind) either a capsule (Caf or placebo) with water or Cof(decaffeinated Cof, decaffeinated with Caf added, or regularCof). In all three Caf trials, the Caf dose was 4.45 mg/kgbody wt and the volume of liquid was 7.15 ml/kg. After 1 h of rest, thesubject ran at 85% of maximal O₂consumption until voluntary exhaustion (~32 min in the placebo anddecaffeinated Cof tests). In the three Caf trials, the plasma Caf andparaxanthine concentrations were very similar. After 1 h of rest, theplasma Epi was increased (P < 0.05)by Caf ingestion, but the increase was greater(P < 0.05) with Caf capsules thanwith Cof. During the exercise there were no differences in Epi amongthe three Caf trials, and the Epi values were all greater(P < 0.05) than in the othertests. Endurance was only increased(P < 0.05) in the Caf capsule trial; there were no differences among the other four tests. One cannot extrapolate the effects of Caf to Cof; there must be a component(s) ofCof that moderates the actions of Caf.

     

Exercise causes blood glutathione oxidation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevention by O2 therapy

Viña, José, Emilio Servera, Miguel Asensi, JuanSastre, Federico V. Pallardó, José A. Ferrero, JoséGarcía-de-la-Asunción, Vicente Antón, and JulioMarín. Exercise causes blood glutathione oxidation inchronic obstructive pulmonary disease: prevention by O₂therapy. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(5):2199-2202, 1996.The aim of the present study was to determinewhether glutathione oxidation occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD) patients who perform exercise and whether this could beprevented. Blood glutathione red-ox ratio [oxidized-to-reducedglutathione (GSSG/GSH)] was significantly increased when patientsperformed exercise for a short period of time until exhaustion. Theirresting blood GSSG/GSH was 0.039 ± 0.008 (SD)(n = 5), whereas after exercise itincreased to 0.085 ± 0.019, P < 0.01. Glutathione oxidation associated with exercise was partiallyprevented by oxygen therapy (resting value: 0.037 ± 0.014, n = 5; after exercise: 0.047 ± 0.016, n = 5, P < 0.01). We conclude that lightexercise causes an oxidation of glutathione in COPD patients, which canbe partially prevented by oxygen therapy.

     

Ventilatory response to exercise in subjects breathing CO2 or HeO2

Babb, T. G. Ventilatory response to exercise insubjects breathing CO₂ orHeO₂.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(3): 746-754, 1997.To investigate the effects of mechanical ventilatory limitationon the ventilatory response to exercise, eight older subjects with normal lung function were studied. Each subject performed graded cycleergometry to exhaustion once while breathing room air; once whilebreathing 3% CO₂-21%O₂-balanceN₂; and once while breathing HeO₂ (79% He and 21%O₂). Minute ventilation(E) and respiratory mechanics weremeasured continuously during each 1-min increment in work rate (10 or20 W). Data were analyzed at rest, at ventilatory threshold (VTh),and at maximal exercise. When the subjects were breathing 3%CO₂, there was an increase(P < 0.001) inE at rest and at VTh but not duringmaximal exercise. When the subjects were breathingHeO₂,E was increased(P < 0.05) only during maximalexercise (24 ± 11%). The ventilatory response to exercise belowVTh was greater only when the subjects were breathing 3% CO₂(P < 0.05). Above VTh, theventilatory response when the subjects were breathingHeO₂ was greater than whenbreathing 3% CO₂(P < 0.01). Flow limitation, aspercent of tidal volume, during maximal exercise was greater(P < 0.01) when the subjects werebreathing CO₂ (22 ± 12%) thanwhen breathing room air (12 ± 9%) or when breathingHeO₂ (10 ± 7%)(n = 7). End-expiratory lung volumeduring maximal exercise was lower when the subjects were breathingHeO₂ than when breathing room airor when breathing CO₂(P < 0.01). These data indicate thatolder subjects have little reserve for accommodating an increase inventilatory demand and suggest that mechanical ventilatory constraintsinfluence both the magnitude of Eduring maximal exercise and the regulation ofE and respiratory mechanics duringheavy-to-maximal exercise.

     

Physiological adaptations to a weight-loss dietary regimen and exercise programs in women

Kraemer, William J., Jeff S. Volek, Kristine L. Clark, ScottE. Gordon, Thomas Incledon, Susan M. Puhl, N. Travis Triplett-McBride, Jeffrey M. McBride, Margot Putukian, and Wayne J. Sebastianelli. Physiological adaptations to a weight-loss dietary regimen andexercise programs in women. J. Appl.Physiol. 83(1): 270-279, 1997.Thirty-one women(mean age 35.4 ± 8.5 yr) who were overweight were matched andrandomly placed into either a control group (Con; n = 6), a diet-only group (D;n = 8), a diet+aerobic endurance exercise training group (DE; n = 9),or a diet+aerobic endurance exercise training+strength training group(DES; n = 8). After 12 wk, the threedietary groups demonstrated a significant(P  0.05) reduction in body mass,%body fat, and fat mass. No differences were observed in the magnitudeof loss among groups, in fat-free mass, or in resting metabolic rate.The DE and DES groups increased maximal oxygen consumption, and the DESgroup demonstrated increases in maximal strength. Weight loss resultedin a similar reduction in total serum cholesterol, low-densitylipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol amongdietary groups. These data indicate that weight loss during moderatecaloric restriction is not altered by inclusion of aerobic oraerobic+resistance exercise, but diet in conjunction with training caninduce remarkable adaptations in aerobic capacity and muscular strengthdespite significant reductions in body mass.

     

Plasma catecholamine and lactate response during graded exercise with varied glycogen conditions.

The relationships between the lactate threshold (TLa), plasma catecholamines, and ventilatory threshold (TVE) were examined under normal and glycogen-depleted conditions. Nine male subjects performed a graded exercise test on a bicycle ergometer in a normal glycogen (NG) state and in a glycogen-depleted (GD) state to determine if manipulation of muscle glycogen content would affect their ventilatory, lactate, and catecholamine responses. High correlations were found between plasma lactate and the two catecholamines, epinephrine (r = 0.964) and norepinephrine (r = 0.965) under both conditions. The GD protocol resulted in a shift in the TLa to a later work rate; inflections in epinephrine and norepinephrine shifted in a coordinated manner. TVE and TLa occurred at similar work loads under NG conditions [67.2 +/- 1.5 and 65.6 +/- 2.3% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), respectively], but TLa occurred at a later work load (75.3 +/- 1.9% VO2max) compared with TVE (68.3 +/- 1.6% VO2max) under GD conditions. These results suggest a causal relationship between plasma lactate and epinephrine during a graded exercise test under the glycogen conditions studied. Although an association existed between ventilation and lactate, this relationship was not as strong.     

Acute and chronic effects of exercise on leptin levels in humans

Pérusse, Louis, Gregory Collier, Jacques Gagnon,Arthur S. Leon, D. C. Rao, James S. Skinner, Jack H. Wilmore,André Nadeau, Paul Z. Zimmet, and Claude Bouchard. Acute andchronic effects of exercise on leptin levels in humans.J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 5-10, 1997.The acute (single bout of exercise) and chronic (exercisetraining) effects of exercise on plasma leptin were investigated in 97 sedentary adult men (n = 51) and women(n = 46) participating in the HERITAGEFamily Study. Exercise training consisted of a standardized 20-wkendurance training program performed in the laboratory on acomputer-controlled cycle ergometer. Maximal oxygen uptake, bodycomposition assessed by hydrostatic weighing, and fasting insulin levelwere also measured before and after training. Pre- and posttrainingblood samples were obtained before and after completion of a maximalexercise test on the cycle ergometer. Exercise training resulted insignificant changes in maximal oxygen uptake (increase in both genders)and body compostion (reduction of fat mass in men and increase infat-free mass in women). There were considerable interindividualdifferences in the leptin response to acute and chronic effects ofexercise, some individuals showing either increase or reduction inleptin, others showing almost no change. On average, leptin levels werenot acutely affected by exercise. After endurance training wascompleted, leptin levels decreased significantly in men (from 4.6 to3.9 ng/ml; P = 0.004) but not inwomen. However, after the training-induced changes in body fat masswere accounted for, the effects of exercise training were no longersignificant. Most of the variation observed in leptin levels afteracute exercise or endurance training appears to be within theconfidence intervals of the leptin assay. We conclude that there are nomeaningful acute or chronic effects of exercise, independent of theamount of body fat, on leptin levels in humans.

     

Resistance exercise maintains skeletal muscle protein synthesis during bed rest

Ferrando, Arny A., Kevin D. Tipton, Marcas M. Bamman, andRobert R. Wolfe. Resistance exercise maintains skeletal muscle protein synthesis during bed rest. J. Appl.Physiol. 82(3): 807-810, 1997.Spaceflightresults in a loss of lean body mass and muscular strength. Aground-based model for microgravity, bed rest, results in a loss oflean body mass due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis (MPS).Resistance training is suggested as a proposed countermeasure forspaceflight-induced atrophy because it is known to increase both MPSand skeletal muscle strength. We therefore hypothesized that scheduledresistance training throughout bed rest would ameliorate the decreasein MPS. Two groups of healthy volunteers were studied during 14 days ofsimulated microgravity. One group adhered to strict bed rest (BR;n = 5), whereas a second group engagedin leg resistance exercise every other day throughout bed rest (BREx;n = 6). MPS was determined directly bythe incorporation of infusedL-[ring-¹³C₆]phenylalanineinto vastus lateralis protein. After 14 days of bed rest, MPS in theBREx group did not change and was significantly greater than in the BRgroup. Thus moderate-resistance exercise can counteract the decrease inMPS during bed rest.

     

Gut and liver fat metabolism in depancreatized dogs: effects of exercise and acute insulin infusion

Namdaran, Kiarash, Deanna P. Bracy, D. Brooks Lacy, JaniceL. Johnson, Jennifer L. Bupp, and David H. Wasserman. Gut andliver fat metabolism in depancreatized dogs: effects of exercise andacute insulin infusion. J. Appl.Physiol. 83(4): 1339-1347, 1997.Excessivecirculating fat levels are a defining feature of poor metabolic controlin diabetes. Splanchnic adipose tissue is a source of free fatty acids(FFA), and the liver is a key site of FFA utilization and the solesource of ketones. Despite the role of splanchnic tissues in fatmetabolism, little is known about how these tissues respond to diabetesunder divergent metabolic conditions. Therefore, splanchnic fatmetabolism was studied in poorly controlled diabetes under twoconditions. First, it was studied during exercise, a stimulus thatenhances FFA flux. Second, it was studied while insulin was beingacutely infused to achieve levels normally present during exercise, atreatment that may be expected to inhibit lipolysis. For this purpose,liver and gut arteriovenous differences were used during rest and 2.5 h of treadmill exercise in insulin-deficient(n = 6) and acutely insulin-infused(n = 4) depancreatized (PX) dogs. Thedata show that 1) exercise, ininsulin-deficient PX dogs, leads to an increase in net FFA release frommesenteric fat that is equal in magnitude to the response innondiabetic dogs; 2) net hepaticfractional FFA extraction is increased twofold during exercise in bothinsulin-deficient PX dogs and nondiabetic control dogs;3) during exercise, ~40 and 75%of the FFA consumed by the liver is effectively transferred from fatstores mobilized from splanchnic adipose tissue in insulin-deficient PXand nondiabetic dogs, respectively;4) hepatic ketogenic efficiency iselevated during rest three- to fourfold in insulin-deficient PX dogscompared with nondiabetic control dogs and remains elevated duringexercise; and 5) surprisingly, acuteinsulin replacement is ineffective in normalizing net gut, hepatic, orsplanchnic FFA or ketone body balances in PX dogs.

     

Influence of diet and exercise on skeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue in men

Ross, Robert, John Rissanen, Heather Pedwell, JenniferClifford, and Peter Shragge. Influence of diet and exercise onskeletal muscle and visceral adipose tissue in men. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(6): 2445-2455, 1996.Theeffects of diet only (DO) and diet combined with either aerobic (DA) orresistance (DR) exercise on subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceraladipose tissue (VAT), lean tissue (LT), and skeletal muscle (SM) tissue were evaluated in 33 obese men (DO, n = 11; DA, n = 11; DR,n = 11). All tissues were measured byusing a whole body multislice magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) model.Within each group, significant reductions were observed for bodyweight, SAT, and VAT (P < 0.05). Thereductions in body weight (~10%) and SAT (~25%) and VAT volume (~35%) were not different between groups(P > 0.05). For alltreatments, the relative reduction in VAT was greater than in SAT(P < 0.05). For the DA and DR groupsonly, the reduction in abdominal SAT (~27%) was greater(P < 0.05) than thatobserved for the gluteal-femoral region (~20%). Conversely, thereduction in VAT was uniform throughout the abdomen regardless oftreatment (P > 0.05). MRI-LT andMRI-SM decreased both in the upper and lower body regions for the DO group alone (P < 0.05). PeakO₂ uptake (liters) wassignificantly improved (~14%) in the DA group as was muscularstrength (~20%) in the DR group (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that DA and DR result in a greaterpreservation of MRI-SM, mobilization of SAT from the abdominal region,by comparison with the gluteal-femoral region, and improved functionalcapacity when compared with DO in obese men.

     

Lactate and epinephrine during exercise in altitude natives

Kayser, Bengt, Roland Favier, Guido Ferretti, DominiqueDesplanches, Hilde Spielvogel, Harry Koubi, Brigitte Sempore, and HansHoppeler. Lactate and epinephrine during exercise in altitudenatives. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(6):2488-2494, 1996.We tested the hypothesis that the reported lowblood lactate accumulation ([La]) during exercise inaltitude-native humans is refractory to hypoxia-normoxia transitions byinvestigating whether acute changes in inspiredO₂ fraction(FI_O2) affect the[La] vs. power output ()relationship or, alternatively, as reported for lowlanders, whetherchanges in [La] vs. on changes inFI_O2 are related tochanges in blood epinephrine concentration ([Epi]). Altitude natives [n = 8, age 24 ± 1 (SE) yr, body mass 62 ± 3 kg, height 167 ± 2 cm]in La Paz, Bolivia (3,600 m) performed incremental exercise with twolegs and one leg in chronic hypoxia and acute normoxia (AN). Submaximalone- and two-leg O₂ uptake (O₂) vs. relationships were not altered byFI_O2. AN increased two-legpeak O₂ by 10% and peak by 7%. AN paradoxically decreasedone-leg peak O₂ by 7%,whereas peak remained the same. The[La] vs. relationships were similar tothose reported in unacclimatized lowlanders. There was a shift to theright on AN, and maximum [La] was reduced by 7 and 8% forone- and two-leg exercises, respectively. [Epi] and[La] were tightly related (mean r = 0.81) independently ofFI_O2. Thus normoxiaattenuated the increment in both [La] and [Epi]as a function of , whereas the correlation between[La] and [Epi] was unaffected. These data suggest loose linkage of glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation under influence from [Epi]. In conclusion, high-altitudenatives appear to be not fundamentally different from lowlanders with regard to the effect of acute changes inFI_O2 on [La] during exercise.

     

Reproductive function in male endurance athletes: sperm analysis and hormonal profile

Lucía, Alejandro, José L. Chicharro, MargaritaPérez, Luis Serratosa, Fernando Bandrés, and Julio C. Legido. Reproductive function in male endurance athletes: spermanalysis and hormonal profile. J. Appl.Physiol. 81(6): 2627-2636, 1996.The purpose ofthis investigation was to study the effects of endurance exercise onmale reproductive function (sex hormones and seminograms). Professionalcyclists [n = 12; mean age 24 ± 2 (SD) yr], elite triathletes(n = 9; 26 ± 3 yr),recreational marathon runners (n = 10;32 ± 6 yr), and sedentary subjects (control group;n = 9; 30 ± 4 yr) were selected assubjects. For each group, the following parameters were measured threetimes during the sports season (training period: winter; competitionperiod: spring; resting period: fall): percentage of body fat, hormonalprofile (resting levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizinghormone, total and free testosterone, and cortisol), and seminograms(quantitative parameters: sperm volume and sperm count; qualitativeparameters: sperm motility and morphology). The following comparisonswere made in the measured parameters:1) within groups (longitudinal design) and 2) between groups ineach of the three periods (cross-sectional design) and over time (mixeddesign). In addition, both the volume and the intensity of training ofeach subject during the season (except for the control group) werequantified. Despite significant differences in training characteristicsand in body fat percent, in general no significant differences(P > 0.05) were found in hormonalprofiles or in semen characteristics between or within groups. A lowersperm motility (46.2 ± 19.5%), however, was observed in thecyclists during the competition period when compared either with theother groups during this same period(P < 0.05) or with themselves duringthe other two periods of study (P < 0.01). In any case, the later phenomenon was attributed to physicalfactors associated with cycling, such as mechanical trauma to thetestis and/or increased gonadal temperature. In conclusion, ourfindings suggest that endurance exercise does not adversely affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis.

     

Both physical fitness and acute exercise regulate nitric oxide formation in healthy humans

Jungersten, Lennart, Anneli Ambring, Björn Wall, andÅke Wennmalm. Both physical fitness and acute exerciseregulate nitric oxide formation in healthy humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(3): 760-764, 1997.We analyzednitrate, a major stable end product of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism invivo in plasma and urine from groups of healthy subjects with differentworking capacities. Resting plasma nitrate was higher in athleticsubjects than in nonathletic controls [45 ± 2 vs. 34 ± 2 (SE) µM; P < 0.01]. In other subjects, both the resting plasma nitrate level(r = 0.53; P < 0.01) and the urinary excretionof nitrate at rest (r = 0.46; P < 0.01) correlated to thesubjects' peak work rates, as determined by bicycle ergometry. Twohours of physical exercise elevated plasma nitrate by 18 ± 4 (P < 0.01) and 16 ± 6%(P < 0.01), respectively, in athletes and nonathletes, compared with resting nitrate before exercise. We conclude that physical fitness and formation of NO at restare positively linked to each other. Furthermore, a single session ofexercise elicits an acute elevation of NO formation. The observedpositive relation between physical exercise and NO formation may helpto explain the beneficial effects of physical exercise oncardiovascular health.

     

Prior eccentric contractions impair maximal insulin action on muscle glucose uptake in the conscious rat

Asp, Sven, Allan Watkinson, Nicholas D. Oakes, and Edward W. Kraegen. Prior eccentric contractions impair maximal insulin action on muscle glucose uptake in the conscious rat.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(4):1327-1332, 1997.Our aim was to examine the effect of prioreccentric contractions on insulin action locally in muscle in theintact conscious rat. Anesthetized rats performed one-leg eccentriccontractions through the use of calf muscle electrical stimulationfollowed by stretch of the active muscles. Two days later, basal andeuglycemic clamp studies were conducted with the rats in the awakefasted state. Muscle glucose metabolism was estimated from2-[¹⁴C(U)]deoxy-D-glucoseandD-[3-³H]glucose administration, and comparisons were made between the eccentrically stimulated and nonstimulated (control) calfmuscles. At midphysiological insulin levels, effects ofprior eccentric exercise on muscle glucose uptake were notstatistically significant. Maximal insulin stimulation revealed reducedincremental glucose uptake above basal(P < 0.05 in the red gastrocnemius;P < 0.1 in the white gastrocnemiusand soleus) and impaired net glycogen synthesis in all eccentricallystimulated muscles (P < 0.05). Weconclude that prior eccentric contractions impair maximal insulin action (responsiveness) on local muscle glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in the conscious rat.

     

Pseudoephedrine is without ergogenic effects during prolonged exercise

Gillies, Hunter, Wayne E. Derman, Timothy D. Noakes, Peter Smith, Alicia Evans, and Gary Gabriels.Pseudoephedrine is without ergogenic effects during prolongedexercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(6): 2611-2617, 1996.This study was designed to measure whether a single dose of 120 mg pseudoephedrine ingested 120 min before exercise influencesperformance during 1 h of high-intensity exercise. The effects ofexercise on urinary excretion of the drug were also studied. Tenhealthy male cyclists were tested on two occasions, separated by atleast 7 days, by using a randomly assigned, double-blind,placebo-controlled, crossover design. Exercise performance was testedduring a 40-km trial on a laboratory cycle ergometer, and skeletalmuscle function was measured during isometric contractions. On a thirdoccasion, subjects ingested 120 mg pseudoephedrine but did not exercise[control (C)]. Pseudoephedrine did not influence eithertime trial performance [drug (D) vs. placebo: 58.1 ± 1.4 (SE) vs. 58.7 ± 1.5 min] or isometric muscle function. Urinary pseudoephedrine concentrations were significantly increased 1 h after exercise (D vs. C: 114.3 ± 27.2 vs. 35.4 ± 13.1 µg/ml; P < 0.05). Peak plasma pseudoephedrineconcentrations (P < 0.05) but not time taken to reach peakplasma concentrations or the area under the plasma pseudoephedrineconcentration vs. time curve was significantly increased in the totalgroup with exercise (D vs. C). In three subjects, plasmapseudoephedrine concentrations were not influenced by exercise. Onlythese subjects showed increased urinary pseudoephedrine excretionduring exercise. We conclude that a single therapeutic dose ofpseudoephedrine did not have a measurable ergogenic effect duringhigh-intensity exercise of 1-h duration, but plasma drug concentrationsand urinary excretion were altered by exercise. These findings havepractical relevance to doping control regulations in internationalsporting competitions.

     

Impact of resistance exercise during bed rest on skeletal muscle sarcopenia and myosin isoform distribution

Bamman, Marcas M., Mark S. F. Clarke, Daniel L. Feeback,Robert J. Talmadge, Bruce R. Stevens, Steven A. Lieberman, and MichaelC. Greenisen. Impact of resistance exercise during bed rest onskeletal muscle sarcopenia and myosin isoform distribution. J. Appl. Physiol. 84(1): 157-163, 1998.Because resistance exercise (REx) and bed-rest unloading (BRU)are associated with opposing adaptations, our purpose was to test theefficacy of REx against the effects of 14 days of BRU on theknee-extensor muscle group. Sixteen healthy men were randomly assignedto no exercise (NoEx; n = 8) or REx(n = 8). REx performed five sets ofleg press exercise with 80-85% of one repetition maximum (1 RM)every other day during BRU. Muscle samples were removed from the vastuslateralis muscle by percutaneous needle biopsy. Myofiber distributionwas determined immunohistochemically with three monoclonal antibodiesagainst myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms (I, IIa, IIx). MHCdistribution was further assessed by quantitative gel electrophoresis.Dynamic 1-RM leg press and unilateral maximum voluntary isometriccontraction (MVC) were determined. Maximal neural activation (root meansquared electromyogram) and rate of torque development (RTD) weremeasured during MVC. Reductions(P < 0.05) in type I (15%) and typeII (17%) myofiber cross-sectional areas were found in NoEx but not inREx. Electrophoresis revealed no changes in MHC isoform distribution. The percentage of type IIx myofibers decreased(P < 0.05) in REx from 9 to 2% anddid not change in NoEx. 1 RM was reduced(P < 0.05) by 9% in NoEx but wasunchanged in REx. MVC fell by 15 and 13% in NoEx and REx,respectively. The agonist-to-antagonist root mean squaredelectromyogram ratio decreased (P < 0.05) 19% in REx. RTD slowed (P < 0.05) by 54% in NoEx only. Results indicate that REx preventedBRU-induced myofiber atrophy and also maintained training-specificstrength. Unlike spaceflight, BRU did not induce shifts in myosinphenotype. The reported benefits of REx may prove useful in prescribingexercise for astronauts in microgravity.

     

Effect of resistance exercise training on cortical and cancellous bone in mature male rats

Westerlind, Kim C., James D. Fluckey, Scott E. Gordon,William J. Kraemer, Peter A. Farrell, and Russell T. Turner.Effect of resistance exercise training on cortical and cancellousbone in mature male rats. J. Appl.Physiol. 84(2): 459-464, 1998.The effect ofresistance training on tibial cancellous and cortical bone wasevaluated in rats by using static histomorphometry and Northernanalysis. Five-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomlyassigned to exercise (Ex; n = 8) orcontrol (Con; n = 4) groups. Animalswere operantly conditioned to press two levers, facilitating fullextension and flexion of the hindlimbs ("squats"), while wearingan unweighted vest. After an 8-wk familiarization period, Ex animalsperformed 3 sessions/wk for 17-19 sessions with progressivelyincreased amounts of weight applied to the vest. Con rats completed thesame exercise protocol without applied resistance. No difference incross-sectional, medullary, or cortical bone area was observed betweenEx and Con rats in the tibial diaphysis. In contrast, the cancellousbone area in the proximal tibial metaphysis was significantly larger intrained rats. Trabecular number, trabecular thickness, and thepercentage of cancellous bone covered by osteoid were significantlygreater in the Ex animals compared with Con animals. In addition,steady-state mRNA levels for osteocalcin for the Ex group were 456%those expressed in the Con group. The data demonstrate that resistancetraining increases cancellous bone area in sexually mature male ratsand suggest that it does so, in part, by stimulating bone formation.

     

Effects of training and a single session of exercise on lipids and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic men

Crouse, Stephen F., Barbara C. O'Brien, Peter W. Grandjean,Robert C. Lowe, J. James Rohack, and John S. Green. Effects oftraining and a single session of exercise on lipids and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic men. J. Appl.Physiol. 83(6): 2019-2028, 1997.To differentiatebetween transient (acute) and training (chronic) effects of exercise attwo different intensities on blood lipids and apolipoproteins (apo), 26 hypercholesterolemic men (cholesterol = 258 mg/dl, age = 47 yr, weight = 81.9 kg) trained three times per week for 24 wk, 350 kcal/session athigh (80% maximal O₂ uptake,n = 12) or moderate (50% maximalO₂ uptake, n = 14) intensity. Serum lipid andapolipoprotein (apo) concentrations (plasma volume adjusted) weremeasured before and immediately, 24, and 48 h after exercise on fourdifferent occasions corresponding to 0, 8, 16, and 24 wk of training.Data were analyzed using three-way repeated-measures multivariateanalysis of variance followed by analysis of variance and Duncan'sprocedures ( = 0.05). A transient 6% rise inlow-density-lipoprotein cholesterol measured before training at the24-h time point was no longer evident after training. Triglyceridesfell and total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), HDL₃-C, apo A-I, and apoB rose 24-48 h after exercise regardless of training or intensity.Total cholesterol, HDL₃-C, apoA-I, and apo B were lower andHDL₂-C was higher after trainingthan before training. Thus exercise training and a single session ofexercise exert distinct and interactive effects on lipids andapolipoproteins. These results support the practice of training atleast every other day to obtain optimal exercise benefits.