THE GSTP1 c.313A>G POLYMORPHISM MODULATES THE CARDIORESPIRATORY RESPONSE TO AEROBIC TRAINING

The GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism is a candidate to explain some of the individual differences in cardiorespiratory fitness phenotypes’ responses to aerobic exercise training. We aim to explore the association between the GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism and the response to low-high impact aerobic exercise training. Sixty-six Polish Caucasian women were genotyped for the GSTP1 c.313A>G polymorphism; 62 of them completed 12-week aerobic (50-75% HR_max) exercise training and were measured for selected somatic features (body mass and BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness indices – maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max, maximum heart rate (HR_max), maximum ventilation (V_Emax) and anaerobic threshold (AT) – before and after the training period. Two-factor analysis of variance revealed a main training effect for body mass reduction (p=0.007) and BMI reduction (p=0.013), improvements of absolute and relative VO_2max (both p<0.001), and increased V_Emax (p=0.005), but not for changes in fat-free mass (FFM) (p=0.162). However, a significant training x GSTP1 c.313A>G interaction was found only for FFM (p=0.042), absolute and relative VO_2max (p=0.029 and p=0.026), and V_Emax (p=0.005). As the result of training, significantly greater improvements in VO_2max, V_Emax and FFM were gained by the GG+GA group compared to the AA genotype group. The results support the hypothesis that heterogeneity in individual response to training stimuli is at least in part determined by genetics, and GSTP1 c.313A>G may be considered as one (of what appear to be many) target polymorphisms to influence these changes.     

EFFECTS OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION ON STRENGTH AND JUMPING PERFORMANCE IN VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of 6-week strength training with whole body vibration (WBV) on leg strength and jumping performance in volleyball and beach volleyball players. Twenty-three sub-elite male volleyball (VB; n=12) and beach volleyball players (BVB; n=11) aged 21.2±3.0 years were divided into two groups and subjected to 6 weeks of strength training (three one-hour sessions per week): (I) 12 players (6 VB and 6 BVB players) underwent training with WBV (30-40 Hz, 1.7-2.5 mm, 3.0-5.7 g), and (II) 11 players (6 VB and 5 BVB players) underwent traditional strength training. Squat jump (SJ) and countermovement squat jump (CMJ) measurements by the Ergo Tester contact platform and maximum leg press test (1RM) were conducted. Three-factor (2 time x 2 WBV use x 2 discipline) analysis of variance for SJ, CMJ and 1RM revealed a significant time main effect (p<0.001), a WBV use effect (p<0.001) and a discipline effect (p<0.001). Significantly greater improvements in the SJ (p<0.001) and CMJ (p<0.001) and in 1RM (p<0.001) were found in the WBV training groups than in traditional training groups. Significant 3-way interaction effects (training, WBV use, discipline kind) were also found for SJ, CMJ and 1RM (p=0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). It can be concluded that implementation of 6-week WBV training in routine practice in volleyball and beach volleyball players increases leg strength more and leads to greater improvement in jump performance than traditional strength training, but greater improvements can be expected in beach volleyball players than in volleyball players.     

EVOLUTION OF INTRINSIC GROWTH AND ENERGY ACQUISITION RATES. I. TRADE-OFFS WITH SWIMMING PERFORMANCE IN MENIDIA MENIDIA

Abstract Latitudinal populations of the Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia , show substantial genetic variation in rates of energy acquistion and allocation. Reared in common environments, silversides from northern latitudes consume more food, grow faster and more efficiently, store more energy, and produce greater quantities of eggs than their southern conspecifics. The persistence of seemingly inferior southern genotypes in the face of ostensibly superior northern genotypes suggest that there are hidden evolutionary trade-offs associated with these elevated acquisition and allocation rates. We tested the hypothesis that rapid growth and high levels of food consumption trade-off against locomotory performance in M. menidia . We compared both aerobic (prolonged and endurance) and anaerobic (burst) swimming capacities between intrinsically fast-growing fish from the north (Nova Scotia, NS) and intrinsically slow-growing fish from the south (South Carolina, SC) and between growth-manipulated phenotypes within each population. We also compared swimming speeds and endurance between fasted and recently fed fish within populations. Maximum prolonged and burst swimming speeds of NS fish were significantly lower than those of SC fish, and swimming speeds of fast-growing phenotypes were lower than those of slow-growing phenotypes within populations. Fed fish had lower burst speeds and less endurance than fasted fish from the same population. Thus, high rates of growth and the consumption of large meals clearly diminish swimming performance, which likely increases vulnerability to predation and decreases survival and relative fitness. The submaximal growth rate of southern M. menidia appears to be adaptive, resulting from balancing selection on rates of somatic growth.     

溶氧水平对瓦氏黄颡鱼幼鱼静止耗氧率和临界游泳运动能力的影响

为了研究瓦氏黄颡鱼(Peltebagrus vachelli)在不同溶氧水平(DO)下的游泳运动能力、限制性机制及能量适应对策, 在25℃分别对不同溶氧水平(125%、100%、75%、50%和25% 空气饱和度)条件下瓦氏黄颡鱼幼鱼静止耗氧率、临界游泳速度(Ucrit)、活跃耗氧率进行了测定。研究发现瓦氏黄颡鱼的静止耗氧率随溶氧水平下降而显著下降(P2crit)为14.52%空气饱和度(1.16 mg/L)。当溶氧水平从100%下降到25%空气饱和度时, 其活跃耗氧率随溶氧的下降而显著下降(PPP<0.05)。研究结果提示: 在低氧条件下, 瓦氏黄颡鱼的临界游泳速度受中心的心鳃系统的限制, 而在常氧条件下,受外周的运动系统(肌肉组织)的限制。       

Genetic and environmental contributions to prosocial behaviour in 2- to 9-year-old South Korean twins

Although over 50 twin and adoption studies have been performed on the genetic architecture of antisocial behaviour, far fewer studies have investigated prosocial behaviour, and none have done so on a non-western population. The present study examined mothers' ratings of prosocial behaviour in 514 pairs of 2- to 9-year-old South Korean monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Correlational analyses showed a tendency of increasing genetic effects and decreasing shared environmental effects with age although shared family environment effects and the moderating effects of age did not attain statistical significance in model-fitting analyses. The best-fitting model indicated that 55% (95% CI: 45-64%) of the variance in the 2- to 9-year-olds' prosocial behaviour was due to genetic factors and 45% (95% CI: 36-55%) was due to non-shared environmental factors. It is concluded that genetic and environmental influences on prosocial behaviour in young South Koreans are mostly similar to those in western samples.     

SPECTROSCOPIC AND KINETIC STUDIES OF INTERACTIONS OF CALF SPLEEN PURINE NUCLEOSIDE PHOSPHORYLASE WITH 8-AZAGUANINE,AND ITS 9-(2-PHOSPHONYLMETHOXYETHYL) DERIVATIVE

Spectroscopic and kinetic studies of interactions of calf spleen purine nucleoside phosphorylase with 8-azaguanine, an excellent fluorescent/fluorogenic substrate for the synthetic pathway of the reaction, and its 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) derivative, a bisubstrate analogue inhibitor, were carried out. The goal was to clarify the catalytic mechanism of the enzymatic reaction by identification of ionic/tautomeric forms of these ligands in the complex with PNP.