Increased total concentration of Na-K pumps in vastus lateralis muscle of old trained human subjects

The concentration of Na-K pumps was measured as the total capacity for 3H]ouabain binding in needle biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle. Samples were obtained from young (28 +/- 0.2 yr) and old (68 +/- 0.6 yr) untrained control subjects and from groups of age-matched old trained subjects, who had been performing well-defined training programs at regular intervals for 12-17 yr. Measurements of maximum isometric force in knee extension showed that running and, especially, strength training produced a significant increase, whereas swim training was without effect. Both running and swim training increased endurance of knee extension, whereas strength training had a negative effect. When compared with untrained age-matched subjects, the swim-, running-, and strength-trained subjects demonstrated increased concentration of 3H]ouabain binding sites of 30% (P less than 0.01), 32% (P less than 0.05), and 40% (P less than 0.05), respectively. In the entire group of 28 individuals tested, maximum isometric strength and the concentration of 3H]ouabain binding sites showed correlation (r = 0.49, P less than 0.01). This upregulation of Na-K pump concentration might contribute to the reduction in exercise-induced hyperkalemia seen in trained subjects.