Effect of exercise-induced muscle damage on the blood lactate response to incremental exercise in humans

Eccentric muscle actions are known to induce temporary muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle weakness that may persist for several days. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether DOMS-inducing exercise affects blood lactate responses to subsequent incremental dynamic exercise. Physiological and metabolic responses to a standardised incremental exercise task were measured two days after the performance of an eccentric exercise bout or in a control (no prior exercise) condition. Ten healthy recreationally active subjects (9 male, 1 female), aged 20 (SD 1) years performed repeated eccentric muscle actions during 40 min of bench stepping (knee high step; 15 steps · min⁻¹). Two days after the eccentric exercise, while the subjects experienced DOMS, they cycled on a basket loaded cycle ergometer at a starting work rate of 150 W, with increments of 50 W every 2 min until fatigue. The order of the preceding treatments (eccentric exercise or control) was randomised and the treatments were carried out 2 weeks apart. Two days after the eccentric exercise, all subjects reported leg muscle soreness and exhibited elevated levels of plasma creatine kinase activity (P < 0.05). Endurance time and peak V˙O₂ during cycling were unaffected by the prior eccentric exercise. Minute volume, respiratory exchange ratio and heart rate responses were similar but venous blood lactate concentration was higher (P < 0.05) during cycling after eccentric exercise compared with the control condition. Peak blood lactate concentration, observed at 2 min post-exercise was also higher [12.6 (SD 1.4) vs 10.9 SD (1.3) mM; P < 0.01]. The higher blood lactate concentration during cycling exercise after prior eccentric exercise may be attributable to an increased rate of glycogenolysis possibly arising from an increased recruitment of Type II muscle fibres. It follows that determination of lactate thresholds for the purpose of fitness assessment in subjects experiencing DOMS is not appropriate. Accepted: 27 September 1997     

Evidence that L‐glutamine is better than L‐alanine as gluconeogenic substrate in perfused liver of weaned fasted rats submitted to short‐term insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia

Gluconeogenesis in livers from overnight fasted weaned rats submitted to short‐term insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia (IIH) was investigated. For this purpose, a condition of hyperinsulinemia/hypoglycaemia was obtained with an intraperitoneal (ip) injection of regular insulin (1.0 U kg^?1). Control group (COG group) received ip saline. The studies were performed 30 min after insulin (IIH group) or saline (COG group) injection. The livers from IIH and COG rats were perfused with L‐alanine (5 mM), L‐lactate (2 mM), L‐glutamine (10 mM) or glycerol (2 mM). Hepatic glucose, L‐lactate and pyruvate production from L‐alanine was not affected by IIH. In agreement with this result, the hepatic ability in producing glucose from L‐lactate or glycerol remained unchanged (IIH group vs. COG group). However, livers from IIH rats showed higher glucose production from L‐glutamine than livers from COG rats and, in the IIH rats, the production of glucose from L‐glutamine was higher than that from L‐alanine. The higher glucose production in livers from the IIH group, when compared with the COG group was due to its entrance further on gluconeogenic pathway. Taken together, the results suggest that L‐glutamine is better than L‐alanine, as gluconeogenic substrate in livers of hypoglyceaemic weaned rats. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of glutamine supplementation on the function of neutrophils from exercised rats

In a recent publication, we showed the protective effect of glutamine on neutrophil apoptosis induced by acute exercise. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a single bout of intensive exercise on rat neutrophil function and the possible effect of glutamine supplementation. An aqueous solution of glutamine was given by gavage (1 g per kg b.w.), 1 h before the exercise session. The exercise was carried out on a treadmill for 1 h at 85% VO2máx.. Neutrophils were obtained by intraperitoneal lavage with PBS. The following parameters were evaluated: phagocytosis capacity, production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen metabolites, expression of iNOS, and expression of NADPH-oxidase components (p22phox, p47phox and gp91phox). One hour of exercise at 85% VO2max. induced no change in the phagocytosis capacity and reactive oxygen species production but decreased nitric oxide production. When rats received oral glutamine supplementation, the phagocytosis capacity was significantly increased, the decrease in nitric oxide production induced by exercise was abolished and production of reactive oxygen species was raised. Glutamine supplementation presents a significant effect on neutrophil function including changes induced by exercise.     

有氧运动和谷氨酰胺对二型糖尿病大鼠氧化应激及相关因子表达的影响

目的:探讨有氧运动和谷氨酰胺(Gln)对二型糖尿病(T2MD)大鼠抗氧化应激及炎性因子的影响。方法:用链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,将成年雄性SD大鼠50只,6周龄,随机分为5组(n=10):包括安静对照组(N)、糖尿病对照组(D)、糖尿病施加有氧运动组(DE)、糖尿病施加谷氨酰胺组(DG)、糖尿病施加有氧运动+谷氨酰胺组(DEG)。6周后,检测干预后糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢、抗氧化应激及炎性因子等相关指标,并探讨影响炎症反应的可能机制。结果:与N组相比,D组大鼠血清MDA、血糖、TC、TG、胰岛素、瘦素、TNF-α水平均明显升高(P<0.01),血清中SOD、GSH-Px、脂联素、HDL-C的水平均明显降低(P<0.01);与D组相比,三个干预组血清中MDA、血糖、TC、TG、胰岛素、瘦素、TNF-α水平降低,血清中HDL-C、SOD、GSH-Px、脂联素的水平均明显升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),且两者联合对上述指标的改善作用更为明显(P<0.01)。结论:有氧运动和Gln均能缓解糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢及紊乱、氧化应激损伤及炎症反应,两者联合对其作用优于单一作用。     

Experimental chronic low‐frequency resistance training produces skeletal muscle hypertrophy in the absence of muscle damage and metabolic stress markers

Volitional animal resistance training constitutes an important approach to modeling human resistance training. However, the lack of standardization protocol poses a frequent impediment to the production of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and the study of related physiological variables (i.e., cellular damage/inflammation or metabolic stress). Therefore, the purposes of the present study were: (1) to test whether a long‐term and low frequency experimental resistance training program is capable of producing absolute increases in muscle mass; (2) to examine whether cellular damage/inflammation or metabolic stress is involved in the process of hypertrophy. In order to test this hypothesis, animals were assigned to a sedentary control (C, n = 8) or a resistance trained group (RT, n = 7). Trained rats performed 2 exercise sessions per week (16 repetitions per day) during 12 weeks. Our results demonstrated that the resistance training strategy employed was capable of producing absolute mass gain in both soleus and plantaris muscles (12%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, muscle tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) protein expression (soleus muscle) was reduced by 24% (p < 0.01) in trained group when compared to sedentary one. Finally, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and serum lactate concentrations were not affected in either group. Such information may have practical applications if reproduced in situations where skeletal muscle hypertrophy is desired but high mechanical stimuli of skeletal muscle and inflammation are not. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rutin ameliorates copper sulfate‐induced brain damage via antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory activities in rats

Excessive exposure to Copper (Cu) may result in Cu toxicity and adversely affect health outcomes. We investigated the protective role of rutin on Cu‐induced brain damage. Experimental rats were treated as follows: group I: control; group II: Cu‐sulfate: 200 mg/kg; group III: Cu‐sulfate, and rutin 100 mg/kg; and group IV: rutin 100 mg/kg, for 7 weeks. Cu only treatment significantly decreased body weight gain, while rutin cotreatment reversed this decrease. Cu treatment increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide level, and myeloperoxidase activity and decreased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in rat brain. Immunohistochemistry showed that COX‐2, iNOS, and Bcl‐2 proteins were strongly expressed, while Bax was mildly expressed in the brain of Cu‐treated rats. Furthermore, brain histology revealed degenerated neurons, and perforated laminae of cerebral cortex in the Cu‐only treated rats. Interestingly, coadministration of Cu and rutin reduced the observed histological alteration, improved inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers, thereby protecting against Cu‐induced brain damage via antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms.     

L‐NAME co‐treatment prevent oxidative damage in the lung of adult Wistar rats treated with vitamin A supplementation

Based on the fact that vitamin A in clinical doses is a potent pro‐oxidant agent to the lungs, we investigated here the role of nitric oxide (NO^?) in the disturbances affecting the lung redox environment in vitamin A‐treated rats (retinol palmitate, doses of 1000–9000 IU·kg^?1·day^?1) for 28 days. Lung mitochondrial function and redox parameters, such as lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and the level of 3‐nytrotyrosine, were quantified. We observed, for the first time, that vitamin A supplementation increases the levels of 3‐nytrotyrosine in rat lung mitochondria. To determine whether nitric oxide (NO ?) or its derivatives such as peroxynitrite (ONOO‐) was involved in this damage, animals were co‐treated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L‐NAME (30 mg·kg^?1, four times a week), and we analysed if this treatment prevented (or minimized) the biochemical disturbances resulting from vitamin A supplementation. We observed that L‐NAME inhibited some effects caused by vitamin A supplementation. Nonetheless, L‐NAME was not able to reverse completely the negative effects triggered by vitamin A supplementation, indicating that other factors rather than only NO? or ONOO‐ exert a prominent role in mediating the redox effects in the lung of rats that received vitamin A supplementation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of prolonged exercise on oxidative damage and susceptibility to oxidants of rat tissues in severe hyperthyroidism

We investigated effects of prolonged aerobic exercise and severe hyperthyroidism on indices of oxidative damage, susceptibility to oxidants, and respiratory capacity of homogenates from rat liver, heart and skeletal muscle. Both treatments induced increases in hydroperoxide and protein-bound carbonyl levels. Moreover, the highest increases were found when hyperthyroid animals were subjected to exercise. These changes, which were associated to reduced exercise endurance capacity, were in part due to higher susceptibility to oxidants of hyperthyroid tissues. Levels of oxidative damage indices were scarcely related to changes in antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid-soluble antioxidant concentrations. However, the finding that, following exercise the scavenger levels generally decreased in liver homogenates and increased in heart and muscles ones, suggested a net shuttle of antioxidants from liver to other tissues under need. Aerobic capacity, evaluated by cytochrome oxidase activity, was not modified by exercise, which, conversely, affected the rates of oxygen consumption of hyperthyroid preparations. These results seem to confirm the higher susceptibility of hyperthyroid tissues to oxidative challenge, because the mechanisms underlying the opposite changes in respiration rates during State 4 and State 3 likely involve oxidative modifications of components of mitochondrial respiratory chain, different from cytochrome aa3.     

Conformations and properties of the L‐tryptophyl‐containing peptides in solution,depending on the pH—Theoretical study vs. experiments

The conformational preference and electronic properties of three L ‐tryptophyl‐containing dipeptides, i.e., glycyl‐L ‐tryptophane (H‐Gly‐Trp‐OH), L ‐alanyl‐L ‐tryptophane (H‐Ala‐Trp‐OH), and L ‐methionyl‐L ‐tryptophane (L ‐Met‐Trp‐OH) in solution depending on the pH of the media are studied both theoretically and experimentally. The effect of the protonation of the COO^? and deprotonation of the NH as well as the alkaline hydrolysis of the amide fragment in a strong basic media on the electronic spectra are discussed. Ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods as well as the time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) method as a function of the basis set are performed with a view to obtain the geometry and electronic properties of all of the species as well as the intermediate, obtained in the alkaline hydrolysis mechanism. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 727–734, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com     

耐力运动对大鼠骨骼肌ERK1/2活性的影响

目的:探讨耐力运动对大鼠骨骼肌蛋白总量(t-ERK1/2)及磷酸化ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2)及ERK2mRMA表达的影响。方法:SD大鼠随机分为对照组和运动组。运动组分为1h/d和1.5h/d组,共7周,运动结束后24h和48h取材,测定葡萄糖和胰岛素浓度;Westernblot法检测骨骼肌t-ERK1/2、p-ERK1/2蛋白表达;RT-PCR法分析ERK2mRNA表达。结果:与对照组比较,运动组胰岛素浓度降低;各运动组p-ERK1/2升高;1.5h/d-24h和-48h组t-ERK1/2增高;1h/d-24h组与1.5h/d-24h和-48hERK2mRNA表达增高。结论:耐力运动可能通过增加ERK1/2活性,提高大鼠骨骼肌对胰岛素的敏感性。     

Early moderate exercise benefits myocardial infarction healing via improvement of inflammation and ventricular remodelling in rats

Thus far, the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to early (especially within 24 hours after acute myocardial infarct (MI)) exercise‐mediated beneficial effects on MI have not yet been thoroughly established. In the present study, we demonstrated that acute MI rats that underwent early moderate exercise training beginning one day after MI showed no increase in mortality and displayed significant improvements in MI healing and ventricular remodelling, including an improvement in cardiac function, a decrease in infarct size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and an increase in myocardial angiogenesis, left ventricular wall thickness and the number of cardiac telocytes in the border zone. Integrated miRNA‐mRNA profiling analysis performed by the ingenuity pathway analysis system revealed that the inhibition of the TGFB1 regulatory network, activation of leucocytes and migration of leucocytes into the infarct zone comprise the molecular mechanism underlying early moderate exercise‐mediated improvements in cardiac fibrosis and the pathological inflammatory response. The findings of the present study demonstrate that early moderate exercise training beginning one day after MI is safe and leads to significantly enhanced MI healing and ventricular remodelling. Understanding the mechanism behind the positive effects of this early training protocol will help us to further tailor suitable cardiac rehabilitation programmes for humans.     

The effect of estrogen on muscle damage biomarkers following prolonged aerobic exercise in eumenorrheic women

This study assessed the influence of estrogen (E₂) on muscle damage biomarkers [skeletal muscle - creatine kinase (CK); cardiac muscle - CK-MB] responses to prolonged aerobic exercise. Eumenorrheic women (n=10) who were physically active completed two 60-minute treadmill running sessions at ∼60-65% maximal intensity during low E₂ (midfollicular menstrual phase) and high E₂ (midluteal menstrual phase) hormonal conditions. Blood samples were collected prior to exercise (following supine rest), immediately post-, 30 min post-, and 24 hours post-exercise to determine changes in muscle biomarkers. Resting blood samples confirmed appropriate E₂ hormonal levels Total CK concentrations increased following exercise and at 24 hours post-exercise were higher in the midfollicular low E₂ phase (p<0.001). However, CK-MB concentrations were unaffected by E₂ level or exercise (p=0.442) resulting in the ratio of CK-MB to total CK being consistently low in subject responses (i.e., indicative of skeletal muscle damage). Elevated E₂ levels reduce the CK responses of skeletal muscle, but had no effect on CK-MB responses following prolonged aerobic exercise. These findings support earlier work showing elevated E₂ is protective of skeletal muscle from exercise-induced damage associated with prolonged aerobic exercise.     

谷氨酰胺对大鼠运动性疲劳的改善作用及其机制

目的: 探讨谷氨酰胺(Gln)对大鼠运动性疲劳、骨骼肌氧化应激和肝脏细胞凋亡的改善作用。方法: 将8周龄SPF级雄性SD大鼠20只, 体重180～220 g,适应性喂养1周后随机分为对照组和谷氨酰胺干预组,每组10只。谷氨酰胺干预组采用每天1.0 g/kg/d谷氨酰胺灌胃(约2 ml),对照组以等体积生理盐水灌胃(约2 ml),持续7 d。随后进行力竭实验,禁食不禁水12 h后处死大鼠,检测血清及骨骼肌谷胱甘肽(GSH)和丙二醛(MDA)水平及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力,检测血清乳酸(LD)水平及肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力;荧光实时定量PCR检测肝组织Bcl-2和Bax 基因表达水平。结果: 与对照组相比,谷氨酰胺干预组大鼠力竭时间显著延长(P＜0.05),血清CK、LDH及LD水平显著降低(P＜0.05),血清与骨骼肌中GSH和SOD水平显著提高(P＜0.05),MDA水平明显降低(P＜0.05);肝组织Bax 基因表达水平显著降低(P＜0.05),Bcl-2 基因表达水平明显显著增高(P＜ 0.05)。结论: 谷氨酰胺有缓解大鼠运动性疲劳的作用,其机制可能与降低骨骼肌氧化应激程度和延缓肝脏细胞凋亡率有关。     

Role of oxidative stress in impaired insulin signaling associated with exercise-induced muscle damage

Skeletal muscle is a major tissue that utilizes blood glucose. A single bout of exercise improves glucose uptake in skeletal muscle through insulin-dependent and insulin-independent signal transduction mechanisms. However, glucose utilization is decreased in muscle damage induced by acute, unaccustomed, or eccentric exercise. The decrease in glucose utilization is caused by decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in damaged muscles with inhibition of the membrane translocation of glucose transporter 4 through phosphatidyl 3-kinase/Akt signaling. In addition to inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species including 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and peroxynitrate can induce degradation or inactivation of signaling proteins through posttranslational modification, thereby resulting in a disturbance in insulin signal transduction. In contrast, treatment with factors that attenuate oxidative stress in damaged muscle suppresses the impairment of insulin sensitivity. Muscle-damaging exercise may thus lead to decreased endurance capacity and muscle fatigue in exercise, and it may decrease the efficiency of exercise therapy for metabolic improvement.     

针刺对大鼠运动性骨骼肌损伤内质网应激的干预作用及机制

目的: 观察针刺对大鼠运动性骨骼肌损伤内质网功能酶SERCA、PDI、内质网应激标志蛋白GRP78和PERK通路的影响,探讨针刺防治运动性骨骼肌损伤的内质网途径作用机制。方法: 8周龄雄性SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组(C组,n=6)、单纯运动组(E组,n=30)、针刺对照组(A组,n=30)和运动针刺组(EA组,n=30)。其中,E组和EA组通过一次离心运动建立运动性骨骼肌损伤模型,EA组在运动后即刻于大鼠小腿跟腱上0.5 cm施以针刺干预,A组在同期施以针刺干预。各组根据运动和针刺干预后不同取材时间点分为0 h/12 h/24 h/48 h/72 h亚组(n=6),在对应时相取比目鱼肌进行指标测试。透射电镜观察肌纤维超微机构;ELISA法测定Ca²⁺-ATP酶(SERCA)和蛋白二硫键异构酶(PDI)含量;Western blot检测内质网应激标志蛋白GRP78及p-PERK、p-eIF2α表达。结果: 与C组比较,A组指标各时相均无显著差异(P＞0.05),E组肌纤维超微结构出现不同损伤,SERCA含量0 h至48 h均显著降低(P＜0.05),PDI含量0 h显著升高(P＜0.05),GRP78表达0 h至72 h均显著升高(P＜ 0.05),p-PERK表达0 h至24 h显著升高(P＜0.05), p-eIF2α表达与p-PERK一致;与E组对应时相比较,EA组肌纤维超微结构明显改善,SERCA含量48 h和72 h显著升高(P＜0.05),PDI含量0 h至72 h均显著升高(P＜0.05),GRP78表达0 h至72 h均显著降低(P＜0.05),p-PERK和p-eIF2α表达12 h和24 h显著降低(P＜0.05)。结论: 针刺可有效改善一次大负荷离心运动后导致的运动性骨骼肌损伤并缓解内质网应激,其机制可能与上调蛋白二硫键异构酶PDI以及抑制内质网应激PERK通路有关。     

The determination of glutamine with flow‐injection chemiluminescence detection and mechanism study

The main purpose of this study was to develop an inexpensive, simple, rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of glutamine (Gln) using a flow‐injection (FI) system. Gln was found to strongly inhibit the CL signal of the luminol–H₂O₂–CuSO₄ system in Na₂B₄O₇ solution. A new FI‐CL method was developed for the determination of Gln. Parameters affecting the reproducibility and CL detection were optimized systematically. Under the optimized conditions, the corresponding linear regression equation was established over the range of 5.0 × 10^?7 to 2.5 × 10^?6 mol/L with the detection limit of 1.8 × 10^?8 mol/L. The relative standard deviation was found to be 1.8% for 11 replicate determinations of 1.5 × 10^?6 mol/L Gln. The proposed method has been satisfactorily applied for the determination of Gln in real samples (Marzulene‐s granules) with recoveries in the range of 98.7–108.6%. The minimum sampling rate was about 100 samples/h. The possible mechanism of this inhibitory CL was studied by fluorescence spectrophotometer and UV–vis spectrophotometer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood parameters of athletes at rest and after exercise

The effects of magnesium supplementation on blood parameters were studied during a period of 4 wk in adult tae-kwon-do athletes at rest and exhaustion. Thirty healthy subjects of ages ranging in age from 18 to 22 yr were included in the study. The subjects were separated into three groups, as follows: Group 1 consisted of subjects who did not train receiving 10 mg/kg/d magnesium. Group 2 included subjects equally supplemented with magnesium and exercising 90–120 min/d for 5 d/wk. Group 3 were subject to the same exercise regime but did not receive magnesium supplements. The leukocyte count (WBC) was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the subjects who did not receive any supplements (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the WBC of the two groups under magnesium supplementation. The erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and trombocyte levels were significantly increased in all groups (p < 0.05), but the hematocrit levels did not show any differences between the groups although they were increased after supplementation and exercise. These results suggest that magnesium supplementation positively influences the performance of training athletes by increasing erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels.     

Effects of glutamine and asparagine on recombinant antibody production using CHO‐GS cell lines

A unique and nontraditional approach using glutamine and asparagine supplements for CHO‐glutamine synthetase (GS) cell lines was studied. In our experiments, we found that a decrease in pH and an increase in cell death occurred in production phase of a GS cell line, leading to reduced antibody expression and lower antibody yields. The experimental results and the statistical analysis (ANOVA) indicated that additions of glutamine and asparagine in the basal and feed media were effective to buffer the cell culture pH, reduce lactate generation, maintain a higher cell viability profile, and improve antibody productivity. In bench‐top bioreactors, glutamine and asparagine supplementation helped to prevent cell death, improve antibody yield, and reduce base usage. Glutamine is normally excluded from culture media for GS cell lines to prevent the bypass of selection pressure. In this study, however, the addition of glutamine did not affect cell population homogeneity, protein quality, or decrease antibody yield of two GS cell lines. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1457–1468, 2014