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Biomedical subjects

B Saltin

Publications and source records attributed to B Saltin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Left ventricular function and perfusion in elderly endurance athletes.

PURPOSE: To study the extent to which lifelong physical training can affect cardiovascular capacity, left ventricular function, and myocardial perfusion in elderly men. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten healthy male veteran endurance athletes aged 73 +/- 3 yr (mean +/- SD) and a control group of 12 sedentary or moderately physically active healthy subjects aged 75 +/- 2 yr were studied. Echocardiographic examinations at rest and exercise stress tests were performed. Gated blood pool scans and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were recorded at rest and during exercise. Maximal VO2 was 41 +/- 7 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the athletes and 26 +/- 5 mL.kg-1.min-1 in the controls (P < 0.001). Echocardiographic measures of systolic and diastolic function at rest were better in the athletes. The ejection fraction during exercise was also higher in the athletes (P = 0.003). Seven of the 10 athletes, but none of the controls, had pathological myocardial perfusion findings. CONCLUSIONS: By endurance training, a high level of physical capacity can be maintained late in life. The superior cardiovascular function in the veteran athletes, compared with the untrained controls was due to both better systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. Myocardial perfusion defects in athletes should be judged with caution, as this finding is common both in veteran athletes and as previously shown, in young athletes.

Aged↗

Aerobic metabolism of human quadriceps muscle: in vivo data parallel measurements on isolated mitochondria.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether parameters of isolated mitochondria could account for the in vivo maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) of human skeletal muscle. VO2max and work performance of the quadriceps muscle of six volunteers were measured in the knee extensor model (range 10-18 mmol O2 x min(-1) x kg(-1) at work rates of 22-32 W/kg). Mitochondria were isolated from the same muscle at rest. Strong correlations were obtained between VO2max and a number of mitochondrial parameters (mitochondrial protein, cytochrome aa3, citrate synthase, and respiratory activities). The activities of citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase, measured in isolated mitochondria, corresponded to, respectively, 15, 3, and 1.1 times the rates calculated from VO2max. The respiratory chain activity also appeared sufficient. Fully coupled in vitro respiration, which is limited by the rate of ATP synthesis, could account for, at most, 60% of the VO2max. This might be due to systematic errors or to loose coupling of the mitochondrial respiration under intense exercise.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

ATP production and efficiency of human skeletal muscle during intense exercise: effect of previous exercise.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether ATP production increases and mechanical efficiency decreases during intense exercise and to evaluate how previous exercise affects ATP turnover during intense exercise. Six subjects performed two (EX1 and EX2) 3-min one-legged knee-extensor exercise bouts [66.2 +/- 3.9 and 66.1 +/- 3.9 (+/-SE) W] separated by a 6-min rest period. Anaerobic ATP production, estimated from net changes in and release of metabolites from the active muscle, was 3.5 +/- 1.2, 2.4 +/- 0.6, and 1.4 +/- 0.2 mmol ATP x kg dry wt(-1) x s(-1) during the first 5, next 10, and remaining 165 s of EX1, respectively. The corresponding aerobic ATP production, determined from muscle oxygen uptake, was 0.7 +/- 0.1, 1.4 +/- 0.2, and 4.7 +/- 0.4 mmol ATP x kg dry wt(-1) x s(-1), respectively. The mean rate of ATP production during the first 5 s and next 10 s was lower (P < 0.05) than during the rest of the exercise (4.2 +/- 1.2 and 3.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.3 mmol ATP x kg dry wt(-1) x s(-1)). Thus mechanical efficiency, expressed as work per ATP produced, was lowered (P < 0.05) in the last phase of exercise (39.6 +/- 6.1 and 40.7 +/- 5.8 vs. 25.0 +/- 1.3 J/mmol ATP). The anaerobic ATP production was lower (P < 0.05) in EX2 than in EX1, but the aerobic ATP turnover was higher (P < 0.05) in EX2 than in EX1, resulting in the same muscle ATP production in EX1 and EX2. The present data suggest that the rate of ATP turnover increases during intense exercise at a constant work rate. Thus mechanical efficiency declines as intense exercise is continued. Furthermore, when intense exercise is repeated, there is a shift toward greater aerobic energy contribution, but the total ATP turnover is not significantly altered.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

BCAA intake affects protein metabolism in muscle after but not during exercise in humans.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) or a placebo was given to seven subjects during 1 h of ergometer cycle exercise and a 2-h recovery period. Intake of BCAA did not influence the rate of exchange of the aromatic amino acids, tyrosine and phenylalanine, in the legs during exercise or the increase in their concentration in muscle. The increase was approximately 30% in both conditions. On the other hand, in the recovery period after exercise, a faster decrease in the muscle concentration of aromatic amino acids was found in the BCAA experiment (46% compared with 25% in the placebo condition). There was also a tendency to a smaller release (an average of 32%) of these amino acids from the legs during the 2-h recovery. The results suggest that BCAA have a protein-sparing effect during the recovery after exercise, either that protein synthesis has been stimulated and/or protein degradation has decreased, but the data during exercise are too variable to make any conclusions about the effects during exercise. The effect in the recovery period does not seem to be mediated by insulin.

Administration, Oral↗

Pro- and macroglycogenolysis: relationship with exercise intensity and duration.

We examined the net catabolism of two pools of glycogen, proglycogen (PG) and macroglycogen (MG), in human skeletal muscle during exercise. Male subjects (n = 21) were assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 exercised 45 min at 70% maximal O(2) uptake (VO(2 max)) and had muscle biopsies at rest, 15 min, and 45 min. Group 2 exercised at 85% VO(2 max) to exhaustion (45.4 +/- 3.4 min) and had biopsies at rest, 10 min, and exhaustion. Group 3 performed three 3-min bouts of exercise at 100% VO(2 max) separated by 6 min of rest. Biopsies were taken at rest and after each bout. Group 1 had small MG and PG net glycogenolysis rates (ranging from 3.8 +/- 1.0 to 2.4 +/- 0.6 mmol glucosyl units. kg(-1). min(-1)) that did not change over time. In group 2, the MG glycogenolysis rate remained low and unchanged over time, whereas the PG rate was initially elevated (11.3 +/- 2.3 mmol glucosyl units. kg(-1). min(-1)) and declined (P < or = 0.05) with time. During the first 10 min, PG concentration ([PG]) declined (P < or = 0.05), whereas MG concentration ([MG]) did not. Similarly, in group 3, in both the first and the second bouts of exercise [PG] declined (P < or = 0.05) and [MG] did not, although by the end of the second exercise period the [MG] was lower (P < or = 0.05) than the rest level. The net catabolic rates for PG in the first two exercises were 22.6 +/- 6.8 and 21.8 +/- 8.2 mmol glucosyl units. kg(-1). min(-1), whereas the corresponding values for MG were 17.6 +/- 6.0 and 10.8 +/- 5.6. The MG pool appeared to be more resistant to mobilization, and, when activated, its catabolism was inhibited more rapidly than that of PG. This suggests that the metabolic regulation of the two pools must be different.

Adult↗

Muscle fiber composition and capillary density in Turner syndrome: evidence of increased muscle fiber size related to insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To assess muscle fiber composition and capillary density in Turner syndrome, a condition linked with insulin resistance and increased frequency of type 2 diabetes, and link these findings with insulin sensitivity and physical fitness. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 10 patients with Turner syndrome who were off hormone replacement therapy (aged 32.7 +/- 8.9 years) and a control group of 14 normal women (aged 35.6 +/- 9.3 years) were studied. None of the participants had diabetes or any family history of type 2 diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and insulin sensitivity was assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and a composite whole-body insulin sensitivity index (ISI(comp)). Physical fitness was assessed, and a muscle biopsy was obtained. RESULTS: Women with Turner syndrome were insulin resistant, as seen by a lower ISI(comp) (P = 0.003) and increased glucose (P < 0.0005) and insulin (P = 0.01) levels at 120 min. Impaired glucose tolerance was present in most Turner syndrome patients (6 of 10), but not in the control subjects. Women with Turner syndrome had an increased size of type IIa fibers (P = 0.01), whereas the size of their type I and IIa fibers were comparable with the control group. The groups did not differ in percentage of type I, Iia, or IIx fibers, and there was no difference in the capillary density. Significant correlations were found among ISI(comp), the HOMA index (R(HOMA)), and the mean area of type IIa fibers (ISI(comp): r = -0.632, P = 0.002; R(HOMA): r = 0.570, P = 0.006). Furthermore, capillaries/type IIa fibers correlated significantly with ISI(comp) (r = -0.618, P = 0.01). There were no significant correlations between VO(2max) and muscle fiber composition. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy women with Turner syndrome are characterized by impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, low physical capacity, and enlarged type IIa muscle fibers, indicating diminished oxygen and substrate supply for metabolic processes. These findings could be indicative of a prediabetic state.

Adult↗

Production of interleukin-6 in contracting human skeletal muscles can account for the exercise-induced increase in plasma interleukin-6.

1. Plasma interleukin (IL)-6 concentration is increased with exercise and it has been demonstrated that contracting muscles can produce IL-The question addressed in the present study was whether the IL-6 production by contracting skeletal muscle is of such a magnitude that it can account for the IL-6 accumulating in the blood. 2. This was studied in six healthy males, who performed one-legged dynamic knee extensor exercise for 5 h at 25 W, which represented 40% of peak power output (Wmax). Arterial-femoral venous (a-fv) differences over the exercising and the resting leg were obtained before and every hour during the exercise. Leg blood flow was measured in parallel by the ultrasound Doppler technique. IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 3. Arterial plasma concentrations for IL-6 increased 19-fold compared to rest. The a-fv difference for IL-6 over the exercising leg followed the same pattern as did the net IL-6 release. Over the resting leg, there was no significant a-fv difference or net IL-6 release. The work was produced by 2.5 kg of active muscle, which means that during the last 2 h of exercise, the median IL-6 production was 6.8 ng min-1 (kg active muscle)-1 (range, 3.96-9.69 ng min-1 kg-1). 4. The net IL-6 release from the muscle over the last 2 h of exercise was 17-fold higher than the elevation in arterial IL-6 concentration and at 5 h of exercise the net release during 1 min was half of the IL-6 content in the plasma. This indicates a very high turnover of IL-6 during muscular exercise. We suggest that IL-6 produced by skeletal contracting muscle contributes to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis during prolonged exercise.

Adult↗

Heat production in human skeletal muscle at the onset of intense dynamic exercise.

1. We hypothesised that heat production of human skeletal muscle at a given high power output would gradually increase as heat liberation per mole of ATP produced rises when energy is derived from oxidation compared to phosphocreatine (PCr) breakdown and glycogenolysis. 2. Five young volunteers performed 180 s of intense dynamic knee-extensor exercise ( approximately 80 W) while estimates of muscle heat production, power output, oxygen uptake, lactate release, lactate accumulation and ATP and PCr hydrolysis were made. Heat production was determined continuously by (i) measuring heat storage in the contracting muscles, (ii) measuring heat removal to the body core by the circulation, and (iii) estimating heat transfer to the skin by convection and conductance as well as to the body core by lymph drainage. 3. The rate of heat storage in knee-extensor muscles was highest during the first 45 s of exercise (70-80 J s-1) and declined gradually to 14 +/- 10 J s-1 at 180 s. 4. The rate of heat removal by blood was negligible during the first 10 s of exercise, rising gradually to 112 +/- 14 J s-1 at 180 s. The estimated rate of heat release to skin and heat removal via lymph flow was < 2 J s-1 during the first 5 s and increased progressively to 24 +/- 1 J s-1 at 180 s. The rate of heat production increased significantly throughout exercise, being 107 % higher at 180 s compared to the initial 5 s, with half of the increase occurring during the first 38 s, while power output remained essentially constant. 5. The contribution of muscle oxygen uptake and net lactate release to total energy turnover increased curvilinearly from 32 % and 2 %, respectively, during the first 30 s to 86 % and 8 %, respectively, during the last 30 s of exercise. The combined energy contribution from net ATP hydrolysis, net PCr hydrolysis and muscle lactate accumulation is estimated to decline from 37 % to 3 % comparing the same time intervals. 6. The magnitude and rate of elevation in heat production by human skeletal muscle during exercise in vivo could be the result of the enhanced heat liberation during ATP production when aerobic metabolism gradually becomes dominant after PCr and glycogenolysis have initially provided most of the energy.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Metabolic capacity of skeletal muscles and health].

The metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle plays a significant role for insulin sensitivity and the blood lipid profile. The metabolic capacity of the muscle is a function of the individual's physical activity level. This is also true for the content of type IIx muscle fibres, which is reduced and the number of capillaries, which is elevated with muscle usage. Several of these skeletal muscle features are risk factors for or linked with life style-induced diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and obesity. This central role of the skeletal muscle and its functional metabolic capacity for life style diseases highlights the importance of people maintaining daily physical activity. This article focuses on the link between the metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle and the metabolic syndrome and briefly discusses possible metabolic explanations for this relationship. An important aspect is that when skeletal muscle has a high capacity for lipid oxidation more saturated fatty acids are oxidized and more unsaturated fatty acids are built into the phospholipid fraction of the plasma membrane, giving it more fluidity and improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, the article points at the role of these fatty acids in activating genes via the PPAR-receptor system essential for enzyme and transport proteins in the lipid metabolism.

Exercise↗

[Skeletal muscles, physical activity and health].

The metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle plays a significant role for insulin sensitivity and the blood lipid profile. The metabolic capacity of the muscle is a function of the individual's physical activity level. This is also true for the content of type IIa muscle fibres, which is reduced, and the number of capillaries, which is elevated with muscle usage. Several of these skeletal muscle features are risk factors for or linked with life-style induced diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipemia and obesity. The central role of the skeletal muscle and its functional metabolic capacity for life style diseases highlights the importance of people maintaining daily physical activity. This article focuses on the link between the metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle and the metabolic syndrome and briefly discusses the explanations for this relationship. As one important aspect if skeletal muscle has a high capacity for lipid oxidation, then more saturated fatty acids are oxidised and more unsaturated fatty acids are built in the phospholipid fraction of the plasma membrane, giving it more fluidity and improved insulin sensitivity. Moreover, the article points at the role of these fatty acids in activating genes via the PPAR-receptor system essential for enzyme and transport proteins in the lipid metabolism.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

The 'lactate paradox', evidence for a transient change in the course of acclimatization to severe hypoxia in lowlanders.

The metabolic response to exercise at high altitude is different from that at sea level, depending on the altitude, the rate of ascent and duration of acclimatization. One apparent metabolic difference that was described in the 1930s is the phenomenon referred to as the 'lactate paradox'. Acute exposure to hypoxia results in higher blood lactate accumulation at submaximal workloads compared with sea level, but peak blood lactate remain the same. Following continued exposure to hypoxia or altitude, blood lactate accumulation at submaximal work and peak blood lactate levels are paradoxically reduced compared with those at sea level. It has recently been shown, however, that, if the exposure to altitude is sufficiently long, blood lactate responses return to those seen at sea level or during acute hypoxia. Thus, to evaluate the 'lactate paradox' phenomenon in relation to time spent at altitude, five Danish lowland climbers were studied at sea level, during acute exposure to hypoxia (10% O2 in N2) and 1, 4 and 6 weeks after arrival in the basecamp of Mt Everest (approximately 5400 m, Nepal). Basecamp was reached after 10 days of gradual ascent from 2800 m. Peak blood lactate levels were similar at sea level (11.0 +/- 0.7 mmol L-1) and during acute hypoxia (9.9 +/- 0.3 mmol L-1), but fell significantly after 1 week of acclimatization to 5400 m (5.6 +/- 0.5 mmol L-1) as predicted by the 'lactate paradox'. After 4 weeks of acclimatization, peak lactate accumulation (7.8 +/- 1.0 mmol L-1) was still lower compared with acute hypoxia but higher than that seen after 1 week of acclimatization. After 6 weeks of acclimatization, 2 days after return to basecamp after reaching the summit or south summit of Mt Everest, peak lactate levels (10.4 +/- 1.1 mmol L-1) were similar to those seen during acute hypoxia. Therefore, these results suggest that the 'lactate paradox' is a transient metabolic phenomenon that is reversed during a prolonged period of exposure to severe hypoxia of more than 6 weeks.

Acclimatization↗

Transcriptional regulation of gene expression in human skeletal muscle during recovery from exercise.

Exercise training elicits a number of adaptive changes in skeletal muscle that result in an improved metabolic efficiency. The molecular mechanisms mediating the cellular adaptations to exercise training in human skeletal muscle are unknown. To test the hypothesis that recovery from exercise is associated with transcriptional activation of specific genes, six untrained male subjects completed 60-90 min of exhaustive one-legged knee extensor exercise for five consecutive days. On day 5, nuclei were isolated from biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle of the untrained and the trained leg before exercise and from the trained leg immediately after exercise and after 15 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h of recovery. Transcriptional activity of the uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) genes (relative to beta-actin) increased by three- to sevenfold in response to exercise, peaking after 1-2 h of recovery. Increases in mRNA levels followed changes in transcription, peaking between 2 and 4 h after exercise. Lipoprotein lipase and carnitine pamitoyltransferase I gene transcription and mRNA levels showed similar but less dramatic induction patterns, with increases ranging from two- to threefold. In a separate study, a single 4-h bout of cycling exercise (n = 4) elicited from 5 to >20-fold increases in UCP3, PDK4, and HO-1 transcription, suggesting that activation of these genes may be related to the duration or intensity of exercise. These data demonstrate that exercise induces transient increases in transcription of metabolic genes in human skeletal muscle. Moreover, the findings suggest that the cumulative effects of transient increases in transcription during recovery from consecutive bouts of exercise may represent the underlying kinetic basis for the cellular adaptations associated with exercise training.

Actins↗

Human femoral artery diameter in relation to knee extensor muscle mass, peak blood flow, and oxygen uptake.

It is not known whether the diameter of peripheral conduit arteries may impose a limitation on muscle blood flow and oxygen uptake at peak effort in humans, and it is not clear whether these arteries are dimensioned in relation to the tissue volume they supply or, rather, to the type and intensity of muscular activity. In this study, eight humans, with a peak pulmonary oxygen uptake of 3.90 +/- 0.31 (range 2.29-5.03) l/min during ergometer cycle exercise, performed one-legged dynamic knee extensor exercise up to peak effort at 68 +/- 7 W (range 55-100 W). Peak values for knee extensor blood flow (thermodilution) and oxygen uptake of 6.06 +/- 0.74 (range 4.75-9.52) l/min and 874 +/- 124 (range 590-1,521) ml/min, respectively, were achieved. Pulmonary oxygen uptake reached a peak of 1.72 +/- 0.19 (range 1.54-2.33) l/min. Diameters of common and profunda femoral arteries determined by ultrasound Doppler were 10.6 +/- 0.4 (range 8.2-12.7) and 6.0 +/- 0.4 (range 4.5-8.0) mm, respectively. Thigh and quadriceps muscle volume measured by computer tomography were 10.06 +/- 0.66 (range 6.18-10.95) and 2.36 +/- 0.19 (range 1.31-3.27) liters, respectively. The common femoral artery diameter, but not that of the profunda branch, correlated with the thigh volume and quadriceps muscle mass. There were no relationships between either of the diameters and the absolute or muscle mass-related resting and peak values of blood flow and oxygen uptake, peak pulmonary oxygen uptake, or peak power output during knee extensor exercise. However, common femoral artery diameter correlated to peak pulmonary oxygen uptake during ergometer cycle exercise. In conclusion, common and profunda femoral artery diameters are sufficient to ensure delivery to the quadriceps muscle. However, the common branch may impose a limitation during ergometer cycle exercise.

Adult↗

Muscle oxygen kinetics at onset of intense dynamic exercise in humans.

The present study examined the onset and the rate of rise of muscle oxidation during intense exercise in humans and whether oxygen availability limits muscle oxygen uptake in the initial phase of intense exercise. Six subjects performed 3 min of intense one-legged knee-extensor exercise [65.3 +/- 3.7 (means +/- SE) W]. The femoral arteriovenous blood mean transit time (MTT) and time from femoral artery to muscle microcirculation was determined to allow for an examination of the oxygen uptake at capillary level. MTT was 15.3 +/- 1.8 s immediately before exercise, 10.4 +/- 0.7 s after 6 s of exercise, and 4.7 +/- 0.5 s at the end of exercise. Arterial venous O(2) difference (a-v(diff) O(2)) of 18 +/- 5 ml/l before the exercise was unchanged after 2 s, but it increased (P < 0.05) after 6 s of exercise to 43 +/- 10 ml/l and reached 146 +/- 4 ml/l at the end of exercise. Thigh oxygen uptake increased (P < 0.05) from 32 +/- 8 to 102 +/- 28 ml/min after 6 s of exercise and to 789 +/- 88 ml/min at the end of exercise. The time to reach half-peak a-v(diff) O(2) and thigh oxygen uptake was 13 +/- 2 and 25 +/- 3 s, respectively. The difference between thigh oxygen delivery (blood flow x arterial oxygen content) and thigh oxygen uptake increased (P < 0.05) after 6 s and returned to preexercise level after 14 s. The present data suggest that, at the onset of exercise, oxygen uptake of the exercising muscles increases after a delay of only a few seconds, and oxygen extraction peaks after approximately 50 s of exercise. The limited oxygen utilization in the initial phase of intense exercise is not caused by insufficient oxygen availability.

Adult↗

Endurance training does not alter the level of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in human skeletal muscle.

The effect of endurance training on neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) content and distribution in muscle was investigated. Seven male subjects performed 6 wk of one-legged knee-extensor endurance training (protocol A). Muscle biopsies, obtained from vastus lateralis muscle in the untrained and the trained leg, were analyzed for nNOS protein and activity as well as immunohistochemical distribution of nNOS and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Muscle biopsies were also obtained from another seven male subjects before and after 6 wk of training by endurance running (protocol B) and analyzed for nNOS protein. No difference was found in the amount of nNOS protein in the untrained and the trained muscle either with protocol A or protocol B (P > 0.05). In protocol A, the activity of nNOS was 4.76 +/- 0.56 pmol. mg protein(-1). min(-1) in the control leg, and the level was not different in the trained leg (P > 0.05). nNOS was present in the sarcolemma and cytosol of type I and type II muscle fibers, and the qualitative distribution was similar in untrained and trained muscle. The number of eNOS immunoreactive structures and the number of capillaries per muscle fiber were higher (P < 0.05) after training than before. The present findings demonstrate that, in contrast to findings on animals, nNOS levels remain unaltered with endurance training in humans. Evidence is also provided that endurance training may increase the amount of eNOS, in parallel with an increase in capillaries in human muscle.

Adult↗