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Biomedical subjects

A Thorstensson

Publications and source records attributed to A Thorstensson.

88 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Skeletal muscle fibres and muscle enzyme activities in monozygous and dizygous twins of both sexes.

Significance of the genetic component in determining the interindividual variation observed in skeletal muscle fibre composition and enzyme activities was investigated in 31 pairs of male and female monozygous (MZ) and dizygous (DZ) twins, whose ages ranged in all but one pair (11 years) from 15 to 24 years. Percent distribution of slow twitch muscle fibres and activities of Ca2+ and Ng2+ stimulated ATPases, creatine phosphokinase, myokinase, phosphorylase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and distribution of its isozyme LDH-1 were all analyzed in biopsy samples taken from the vastus lateralis muscle. The data disclosed that in contrast to DZ twins the MZ twins of both sexes had an essentially identical muscle fibre composition. Calculation of the heritability estimate for this parameter gave the values of 99.5% and 92.8%, respectively for males and females. In contrast to the fibre composition presence of a significant genetic component was not observed in any of the enzyme activities studied. It was concluded that there is a predominant genetic influence on the skeletal muscle fibre composition in man, and thus also on the potential capacity of the muscles to perform work.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1977

Fatigue and EMG of repeated fast voluntary contractions in man.

A fatigue test consisting of repeated fast maximal contractions of the left quadriceps muscle in an isokinetic apparatus was performed by 12 healthy male subjects (19-25 yrs). EMG signals recorded from the surface of the left vastus lateralis muscle, from which also biopsies were obtained for muscle fibre classification. Only minor changes were observed in the EMG variables despite a decrease in muscle strength performance, in terms of peak torque, work and power to about 50% of initial values after 100 contractions. The concomitantly obtained positive correlation between the increase in EMG/torque ratio and the individual percentage of fast twitch (FT) muscle fibres indicated that local factors in the muscle, primarily in FT fibres, were causing the development of fatigue during repeated dynamic contractions with high power outputs.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Actomyosin ATPase, myokinase, CPK and LDH in human fast and slow twitch muscle fibres.

The enzyme activities of Mg2+ stimulated ATPase, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), myokinase (MK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in pooled fast twitch (FT) and slow twitch (ST) human skeletal muscle fibers, dissected out from freeze-dried muscle biopsy material. All enzymes investigated demonstrated higher activities in FT fibres. The ratio in enzyme activity between fibre types was greatest for Mg2+ stimulated ATPase (3:1) and smallest for CPK (1.3:1). In addition, the isozyme patterns of CPK, MK and LDH were studied by means of isoelectric focusing (CPK and MK) and discelectrophoresis (LDH). A difference was observed between fibre types with respect to the isozyme distribution of MK and LDH, whereas the CPK isozyme pattern was similar in both fibre types. These results on separated human FT and ST fibres were essentially in conformity with what has earlier been indicated from experiments on mixed muscle homogenates.

Actomyosin↗
PubMed1977

Muscle strength and fiber composition in athletes and sedentary men.

Members of Swedish national teams in track and field events (sprinting and jumping), downhill skiing, race walking, orienteering, and a group of sedentary men were studied to examine the relationship between muslce fiber characteristics in needle biopsy samples form m. vastus lateralis and muscle strength measured as peak torque during isokinectic knee extensions. In comparison with the sedentary group the following differences were found: a) percentage fast twitch fibers was lower in the endurance athetes, b) fast to slow twitch muscle fiber area ratio was higher in the track athletes, c)track athletes and downhill skier attained higher peak torque values at all angular velocities examined. The track athletes had, however, higher torque values at the fastest angular velocity as compared to the downhill skiers, whereas there was no differnce under isometric conditions. The proportion of fast twitch fibers was related to torque produced, especially at high motion velocity. The training also appeared to affect the force-velocity relationship.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Effect of strength training on EMG of human skeletal muscle.

The effects of an 8 weeks period of systematic progressive strength training on the EMG activity of the leg extensor muscles (vastus lateralis and rectus femoris) were investigated in 8 healthy male subjects (22-31 yrs). After training there were indications (n.s.) of a decline in integrated EMG (IEMG) during maximal isometric knee extension as well as in the IEMG vs isometric force relationship. The averaged motor unit potential (AMUP) did not demonstrate any significant changes due to the strength training regimen. In conformity with earlier findings no or only minor alterations were observed in anthropometrics, muscle enzyme activities and fibre composition. The fibre area ratio indicated a specific effect of the training stimuli on the fast twitch muscle fibres. Thus, EMG-analyses, as employed in the present study, did not provide any conclusive additional explanation as to the mechanisms behind the well established gains in muscle strength performance induced by the applied strength training program.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1976

Effect of strength training on enzyme activities and fibre characteristics in human skeletal muscle.

Progressive strength training was performed 3 times a week for 8 weeks by 14 male students (19-31 yrs.). The training program consisted mainly of dynamic exercises for the leg extensors with maximal or close to maximal loads. The training caused significant improvements in dynamic and isometric strength. One repetition maximum in squats increased with 67%, Sargent jump with 22%, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) with 13%, respectively. Body weight and leg muscle circumferences remained unchanged after training, whereas total body potassium, lean body mass and calculated total muscle mass increased, suggesting a change in body composition with training. Muscle biopsies were obtained from vastus lateralis for fibre analyses and determination of enzyme activities. There were no changes in muscle fibre composition or fibre area with training. The activities of Mg2+ stimulated ATPase, creatine phosphokinase and phosphofructokinase remained unchanged, whereas myokinase activity was increased after training from (1.41 to 1.52 moles x 10(-4) x g-1 x min-1, p less than 0.05). After training significant correlations (p less than 0.01) were demonstrated between Mg2+ stimulated ATPase activity and % fast twitch fibres (% FT) (r = 0.67), as well as between myokinase activity and % FT (r = 0.86).

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1976

Effect of physical training on LDH activity and LDH isozyme pattern in human skeletal muscle.

Total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and LDH isozyme pattern were studied in muscle biopsies obtained from m. vastus lateralis after 1) "aerobic" training performed as interval and extreme distance running, respectively (3 subjects); and 2) "anaerobic" training for two months, carried out as repeated maximal bursts of approximately 1 min running (6 subjects). After the "anaerobic training" no changes in LDH properties could be detected, although running performance improved. The extreme distance running resulted in a decrease in total LDH activity and an increase in relative activity of the heart specific isozymes. A relationship was also shown between the relative activity of these isozymes and the training distance covered. The relatively more aerobic prevailing during distance running as compared to "anaerobic training" were proposed to decrease muscle specific subunits and/or increase synthesis of heart specific subunits in both muscle fiber types. This suggestion was supported by isozyme analysis of lyophilized and dissected single muscle fibres.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Fatiguability and fibre composition of human skeletal muscle.

The fatiguability of the quadriceps muscle was investigated in 10 male subjects (25-40 yrs), with inter-individual differences in fibre composition of their vastus lateralis muscles (range 25-65% fast twitch, FT, muscle fibres). Fatiguability was assessed as the decline in maximal force (in % of initial values) with 50 repeated isokinetic knee-extensions at fast angular velocity (3.14 rad/s). Each contraction lasted 0.5 s and the rest periods were about 0.7 s. Every subject was tested on two occasions and the standard deviation for a single determination of fatiguability was 1.4%. The decline in force after 50 contractions was on the average about 45%. The individual values varied, however, and a linear correlation was present between fatiguability and % FT fibres (r = 0.86, p less than 0.01). It was concluded that development of fatigue in human skeletal muscle performing repeated fast dynamic contractions with maximal effort was most marked in muscles with a high proportion FT fibres. This finding was in conformity with earlier results from animal skeletal muscle preparations.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1976

Force-velocity relations and fiber composition in human knee extensor muscles.

Standardized measurements of dynamic strength of the kneee extensor muscles were performed in 25 healthy male subjects (17-37 yr) by means of isokinetic contractions, i.e., knee extensions with constant angular velocities. Overall variation between double determinations of maximal torque throughout the 90 degrees arc of motion (0 degrees = fully extended leg) averaged 10% for the different constant velocities chosen. At any given angle of the knee the torque produced was higher for isometric than for dynamic contractions. Dynamic torque decreased gradually with increased speed of shortening. Peak dynamic torque was reached at knee angles in the range: 55-66 degrees, with a displacement toward smaller knee angles with higher angular velocities. Correlations were demonstrated between peak torque produced at the highest speed of muscle shortening and percent as well as relative area of fast twitch fibers in the contracting muscle. In addition muscles with a high percentage of fast twitch fibers had the highest maximal contraction speeds. These observations on intact human skeletal muscle are consistent with earlier findings in animal skeletal muscle preparations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Isozymes of creatine phosphokinase and myokinase in human heart and skeletal muscle.

The isozyme patterns of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and myokinase (MK) were investigated in biopsy material from human heart and skeletal muscle. The protein separation was performed on crude muscle homogenates by means of flat-bed isoelectric focusing. Two isozymes were demonstrated for each enzyme, irrespective of the sampling site. The pI values were, on the average, 9.8 (MK-1) and 8.9 (MK-2), 7.2 (CPK-1) and 6.9 (CPK-2), respectively. MK-1 and CPK-1 constituted an average of 81% and 70% of total staining density for each enzyme, respectively. The relative contribution of MK-1 differed, however. Heart muscle showed the highest values (mean 91%) and vastus lateralis the lowest (mean 74%). The mean value for soleus was 86% MK-1. Furthermore, the percentage of MK-1 present was negatively correlated with the percentage of fast twitch fibres in m. vastus lateralis (r = -0.67). No corresponding differences could be demonstrated for CPK isozyme distribution. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that MK and CPK each occurred as two isozymes in human heart and skeletal muscle, and that the relative distribution of MK isozymes, in contrast to CPK, was related to muscle fibre type composition, and thus to the metabolic profile of the muscle.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed1975

Relationship between isometric endurance and fibre types in human leg muscles.

Relationship between isometric endurance performance at 50% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MCV) and skeletal muscle fibre composition has been elucidated in 19 physical education students. This was found to be linear and the equation corresponded to: y=9.35 + 1.093x; r=0.70 (endurance time expressed in seconds and fibre composition as percent slow twitch muscle fibres (ST) of the vastus lateralis muscle). As it is assumed from previous studies that similar isometric tensions preferentially recruit fast twitch muscle fibres (FT) and that the muscle at the point of exhaustion exhibits maximal values for lactate accumulation, it is suggested that lactate formed in FT fibres is released and stored in nonrecruited ST fibres. The ability to sustain similar isometric tension would then be depending on how large the fraction of ST fibres is that can serve as a lactaterecipient for lactate producing FT fibres.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

LDH isozymes in skeletal muscles of endurance and strength trained athletes.

Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from arm and leg muscles of endurance and strength trained athletes, respectively. Total LDH activity as well as occurrence and activity of LDH isozymes were determined. Comparing the results from the athletes with those from non-trained subjects with corresponding fibre compositions, it was found that the endurance athletes had a lower total LDH activity, a higher relative activity of the most heart-specific isozymes. LDH (1 + 2), and, on electrophoretic separation, a complete absence of LDH (4 + 5) in both arm and leg muscles. As compared to the untrained material the strength trained athletes tended to have a higher total LDH activity, a similar distribution of relative isozyme activities, and, in the leg muscles, a strong electrophoretic band corresponding to LDH 5, the most skeletal muscle specific isozyme.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Enzyme activities and muscle strength after "sprint training" in man.

Sprint type strength training was performed 3-4 times a week for 8 weeks by 4 healthy male students (16-18 yrs). The training was carried out on a treadmill at high speed and with high inclination. Muscle biopsies were obtained from vastus lateralis before and after the training period for histochemical classification of slow and fast twitch muscle fibres and for biochemical determination of metabolites and enzyme activities. Muscle fibre type distribution was unchanged, whereas fibre area indicated an increase for both fibre types in 3 subjects after training. The muscle enzyme activities of Mg2+ stimulated ATPase, myokinase and creatine phosphokinase increased 30, 20, and 36 percent, respectively. Muscle concentration of ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) did not change with training. Sargent's jump increased with on average 4 cm (from 47 to 51 cm), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with 19 kp (from 165 to 184 kp), and endurance at 50 percent of MVC with 9 s (from 47 to 56 s), respectively. After training all subjects showed a gain in body weight (mean 1.4 kg) and in thigh circumference (mean 1.5 cm) indicating a larger leg muscle volume and consequently also an increase in total ATP and CP.

Actomyosin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of intra-abdominal pressure in spinal unloading.

Previous studies on how an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) effects the loading of the lumbar spine during back extension show diverging results. From a critical review of the literature we deduce a simplified, but consistent, model of the mechanisms involved in IAP-induced unloading of the lumbar spine. The model is then expanded by explicitly incorporating equilibrium equations for the pressurised abdomen and the abdominal wall. It is shown that the unloading effect of IAP can be viewed as that of a pressurised column of fixed cross-sectional area, between the rib cage and pelvis. Different abdominal forms are examined and a form with zero longitudinal curvature is found to have some important mechanical benefits for the generation of IAP-induced alleviation of compressive loading of the lumbar spine.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of eccentric versus concentric training on thigh muscle strength and EMG.

The purpose of this study was to compare pure eccentric and concentric strength training regarding possible specific effects of muscle action type on neuromuscular parameters, such as a decreased inhibition during maximal voluntary eccentric actions. Two groups of young healthy adult men performed 10 weeks of either eccentric or concentric unilateral isokinetic knee extensor training at 90 degrees.s(-1), 4 sets of 10 maximal efforts, 3 days a week. Knee extensor torque and surface EMG from the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups were collected and quantified in a window between 30 and 70 degrees knee angle (range of motion 90-5 degrees ) during maximal voluntary eccentric and concentric knee extensor actions at 30, 90, and 270 degrees.s(-1). Changes in strength of the trained legs revealed more signs of specificity related to velocity and contraction type after eccentric than concentric training. No major training effects were present in eccentric to concentric ratios of agonist EMG or in relative antagonist (hamstring) activation. Thus, for the trained leg, the muscle action type and speed specific changes in maximal voluntary eccentric strength could not be related to any effects on neural mechanisms, such as a selective increase in muscle activation during eccentric actions. Interestingly, with both types of training there were specific cross-education effects, that is, action type and velocity specific increases in strength occurred in the contralateral, untrained, leg, accompanied by a specific increase in eccentric to concentric EMG ratio after eccentric training.

Adaptation, Physiological↗