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Biomedical subjects

H Galbo

Publications and source records attributed to H Galbo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Myosin heavy chain isoform transformation in single fibres from m. vastus lateralis in spinal cord injured individuals: effects of long-term functional electrical stimulation (FES).

The myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of single fibres from m. vastus lateralis of five spinal- cord-injured (SCI) individuals was analysed by Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) before, and after 6 and 12 months of functional electrical stimulation (FES)-training, administrated for 30 min three times per week. Prior to FES training 37.2% of the fibres contained only MHC IIB, 21.2% only MHC IIA, and 40.7% co-expressed MHC IIA and MHC IIB. After 6 months of FES-training the number of fibres containing only MHC IIB was reduced to 2.6% (P < 0.05), the number of fibres containing only MHC IIA was increased to 44.3% (P < 0.05), and the number of fibres co-expressing MHC IIA and MHC IIB was 50.9% (ns). After 12 months almost all fibres (91.2%, P < 0.05) contained only MHC IIA. The number of fibres containing only MHC IIB was 2.3% and the fibres co-expressing MHC IIA and IIB had decreased to 4.6% (P < 0.05). The amount of fibres containing only MHC I never exceeded 0.5%. Likewise, the number of fibres co-expressing MHC I and MHC IIA was below 2% throughout the study period. In total, the MHC composition of 1596 single fibres was determined. This study shows that FES-training of paralysed human skeletal muscle administrated over a prolonged period of time, can lead to a marked switch in MHC expression from about equal amounts of MHC IIA and MHC IIB to an almost total dominance of MHC IIA.

Adult↗

The effect of lesions of the sympathoadrenal system on training induced adaptations in adipocytes and pancreatic islets in rats.

Physical training increases insulin stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes and decreases insulin secretion from pancreatic islets. The mechanism behind these adaptations is not known. Because in acute exercise adrenergic activity influences both adipocytes and pancreatic islets, the sympathetic nervous system was examined as the possible mediator. Rats were either adrenodemedullated or sham adrenodemedullated and underwent either unilateral abdominal sympathectomy or were sham sympathectomized. Resting plasma adrenaline concentration in adrenodemedullated rats was 32% of the concentration in sham adrenodemedullated rats (P < 0.0001) and muscle noradrenaline content in sympathectomized leg was 9% of content in sham sympathectomized leg (P < 0.0001). After operations rats were either swim trained for 10 weeks or remained sedentary. Insulin stimulated 3-O-[14C]methylglucose transport was measured in adipocytes from epididymal fat pads, and insulin secretion and glucose metabolism were measured in glucose stimulated pancreatic islets. Training increased insulin stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes (P < 0.0001) and decreased their size (P < 0.0001), but neither adrenodemedullation nor sympathetic denervation affected these parameters significantly. Training decreased insulin secretion (P < 0.01) and increased glucose oxidation (P = 0.02) and utilization (P = 0.08) in pancreatic islets, but none of these parameters was affected significantly by adrenodemedullation. It is concluded that adrenergic activity is not important for the training induced decrease in size and increase in insulin stimulated glucose transport of adipocytes. Neither is an intact adrenal medulla necessary for training-induced adaptations in pancreatic beta cell function. Finally, in response to training, beta cell insulin secretion and glucose metabolism changed in opposite directions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Training-induced enhancement of insulin action in human skeletal muscle: the influence of aging.

Age-induced reduction of whole body insulin action has been attributed to decreased insulin action in skeletal muscle. Physical training improves insulin action, but the effect has never been investigated specifically in aged human skeletal muscle. Seven young men [age: 23 +/- 1 yr (mean +/- SE; range, 21-24 yr); weight: 70 +/- 1 kg; body fat: 8 +/- 1%] and eight aged men [59 +/- 1 yr (range, 58-64 yr); 83 +/- 2 kg; 20 +/- 2%] performed one-legged bicycle training on a modified ergometer cycle for 10 weeks, 6 days/week, at 70% of VO2 peak. Glucose clearance rates in whole body and leg were measured 16 hr after training by a hyperinsulinemic (28, 88, and 480 mU.min-1.min-2), isoglycemic clamp combined with leg balance technique. Peak oxygen uptake during the bicycle test was always lower (p < .05) in aged vs. young subjects. Furthermore, VO2 peak was higher after training in trained (T) vs. untrained (UT) (p < .05) legs. Whole body glucose clearance rate was lower in aged vs. young subjects (p < .05) when expressed per kg body weight, but similar when expressed relative to fat free mass. Leg blood flow was always lower in aged vs. young men (p < .05). At basal and during insulin infusion, leg blood flow in young men did not differ significantly in T vs. UT legs (maximum insulin: 81 +/- 7 vs. 71 +/- 5 ml.min-1.kg leg-1), while in aged subjects it increased (p < .05) with training (maximum insulin: 57 +/- 5 vs. 48 +/- 5 ml.min-1.kg leg-1). Leg glucose extraction was always higher in aged vs. young men during the two last clamp steps (p < .05). Furthermore, leg glucose extraction was increased by training in young (p < .05) but not significantly in aged subjects. Leg glucose clearance rates increased (p < .05) with training and was similar in aged men (T: 1 +/- 1, 8 +/- 1, 21 +/- 2, and 24 +/- 2; UT: 1 +/- 1, 6 +/- 1, 14 +/- 2, and 20 +/- 2 ml.min-1.kg leg-1) and young men (T: 1 +/- 1, 12 +/- 3, 23 +/- 3, and 26 +/- 3; UT: 1 +/- 1, 8 +/- 2, 17 +/- 2, and 21 +/- 2 ml.min-1.kg leg-1). Therefore, insulin action in muscle is not reduced by aging. At high insulin concentrations, the leg blood flow is lower, whereas glucose extraction is higher in aged compared with young men. Training increases overall insulin action on glucose clearance in skeletal muscle identically in aged and young subjects.

Adipose Tissue↗

Regulation of glucose turnover and hormonal responses during electrical cycling in tetraplegic humans.

To examine the importance of blood-borne vs. neural mechanisms for hormonal responses and substrate mobilization during exercise, six spinal cord-injured tetraplegic (C5-T1) males (mean age: 35 yr, range: 24-55 yr) were recruited to perform involuntary, electrically induced cycling [functional electrical stimulation (FES)] to fatigue for 24.6 +/- 2.3 min (mean and SE), and heart rate rose from 67 +/- 7 (rest) to 107 +/- 5 (exercise) beats/min. Voluntary arm cranking in tetraplegics (ARM) and voluntary leg cycling in six matched, long-term immobilized (2-12 mo) males (Vol) served as control experiments. In FES, peripheral glucose uptake increased [12.4 +/- 1.1 (rest) to 19.5 +/- 4.3 (exercise) mumol.min-1.kg-1; P < 0.05], whereas hepatic glucose production did not change from basal values [12.4 +/- 1.4 (rest) vs. 13.0 +/- 3.4 (exercise) mumol.min-1.kg-1]. Accordingly, plasma glucose decreased [from 5.4 +/- 0.3 (rest) to 4.7 +/- 0.3 (exercise) mmol/l; P < 0.05]. Plasma glucose did not change in response to ARM or Vol. Plasma free fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate decreased only in FES experiments (P < 0.05). During FES, increases in growth hormone (GH) and epinephrine and decreases in insulin concentrations were abolished. Although subnormal throughout the exercise period, norepinephrine concentrations increased during FES, and responses of heart rate, adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-endorphin, renin, lactate, and potassium were marked. In conclusion, during exercise, activity in motor centers and afferent muscle nerves is important for normal responses of GH, catecholamines, insulin, glucose production, and lipolysis. Humoral feedback and spinal or simple autonomic nervous reflex mechanisms are not sufficient. However, such mechanisms are involved in redundant control of heart rate and neuroendocrine activity in exercise.

Adult↗

Hormonal and metabolic responses to electrically induced cycling during epidural anesthesia in humans.

Hormonal and metabolic responses to electrically induced dynamic exercise were investigated in eight healthy young men with afferent neural influence from the legs blocked by epidural anesthesia (25 ml of 2% lidocaine) at L3-L4. This caused cutaneous sensory anesthesia below T8-T9 and complete paralysis of the legs. Cycling increased oxygen uptake to 1.90 +/- 0.13 (SE) l/min, and fatigue developed after 22.7 +/- 2.7 min. Compared with voluntary exercise at the same oxygen uptake and heart rate, concentrations of blood and muscle lactate (musculus vastus lateralis) as well as plasma potassium increased more while muscle glycogen decreased more during electrically induced exercise. Hepatic glucose production always rose during exercise. However, during involuntary exercise with sensory blockade, it did not match the rise in peripheral glucose uptake and plasma glucose decreased (P < 0.05). Plasma glycerol increased less in electrically induced vs. voluntary exercise, and free fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate decreased only during electrically induced exercise. Epinephrine, growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol levels were higher during involuntary vs. voluntary exercise (P < 0.05). In conclusion, neural and humoral mechanisms exert redundant control with regard to responses of catecholamines and pituitary hormones (growth hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone). In contrast, neural input from motor centers and feedback from working muscle are important for glucose production and lipolysis during exercise in humans. Humoral feedback is apparently not sufficient to trigger normal mobilization of extramuscular fuel stores.

Adult↗

Paradoxically enhanced glucose production during exercise in humans with blocked glycolysis caused by muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency.

Muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency (PFKD) is characterized by exercise intolerance due to the enzymatic block in muscle glycolysis. Glucose infusion increases exertional fatigue in these patients, probably by decreasing the availability of free fatty acids (FFA) and ketones, which play a crucial role in ATP production during exercise in PFKD. This suggests that a lower than normal hepatic glucose production would be appropriate during exercise in PFKD. To investigate glucoregulation in PFKD, we measured glucose turnover and hormonal and metabolic responses to 20 minutes of cycle exercise at near maximal effort in three patients with PFKD and in healthy matched controls studied at the same absolute (A, 15 to 30 Watts) and relative (R, 35 to 80 Watts, matched heart rates) work load as the patients. During exercise, mean glucose production was higher in all patients versus controls (30 +/- 4 versus A: 18 +/- 2 and R: 20 +/- 1 mumol.min-1.kg-1). Mean glucose utilization during exercise was similar in patients and controls working at the same relative work load and higher than in controls at the low work load. Exercise-induced increases in arterialized blood were higher in all patients for glucose, FFA, growth hormone, glucagon, and norepinephrine. Plasma alanine and lactate always decreased during exercise in patients and consistently increased in controls. In conclusion, an enhanced neuroendocrine response and a paradoxically exaggerated mobilization of glucose occurs during exercise in PFKD. The responses are probably initiated by neural feedback elicited by disturbances in local muscle metabolism. The responses promote delivery of oxidizable fat to muscle, but at the expense of accumulation and futile cycling of glucose.

Adult↗

Paradoxical inhibition of insulin secretion by glucose in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

In young healthy individuals, an i.v. glucose bolus leads to an immediate increase in plasma insulin, whereas in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients this early response is diminished, lacking or even negative. In the present study, we sought to determine whether negative responses were also present during square-wave glucose stimulation (transition from 18 to 25 mM), whether they represented a decrease in beta-cell secretion, whether they were accompanied by an altered response to arginine (5 g L-arginine bolus), and whether they were a consequence of ageing rather than of diabetes. A group of 12 patients (aged 53 +/- 2 years, mean +/- SE) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (D) and 12 matched healthy controls (C; aged 47 +/- 1 years) were evaluated twice at an interval of 3 months. Other baseline values were body mass index (BMI) 28 +/- 1 (D) and 26 +/- 1 (C) kg/m2, fasting C-peptide 0.85 +/- 0.12 (D) and 0.92 +/- 0.10 (C) nmol/l, and fasting P-glucose 12.3 +/- 0.9 (D) and 5.8 +/- 0.1 (C) mM, P < 0.05. Paradoxical responses (a decrease of two or more times the SD of the analysis within 15 min of increasing the glucose concentration) were seen in five diabetic patients for insulin (22 +/- 8%) and in nine diabetic patients for C-peptide (13 +/- 3%), but never in the healthy controls. Plasma glucose increased and protein decreased similarly, whether the responses were paradoxical or not. Paradoxial responses were reproduced after three months. Responses to arginine did not correlate with responses to glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arginine↗

Glucose homeostasis during exercise in humans with a liver or kidney transplant.

To investigate the role of liver nerve activity on hepatic glucose production during exercise, liver-transplant subjects (LTX, n = 7, 25-62 yr, 4-18 mo postoperative) cycled for 40 min, 20 min at 52 +/- 3% (SE) maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) and 20 min at 83 +/- 1% VO2max, respectively. Kidney-transplant (KTX) and healthy control subjects (C) matched for sex and age exercised at the same %VO2max as LTX. VO2max was lower in both LTX (1.59 +/- 0.12 l/min) and KTX (1.59 +/- 0.07) than in C (2.60 +/- 0.26). At rest plasma renin and insulin were higher and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol lower in transplant corticosteroid-treated subjects compared with C. In LTX, hepatic glucose production (Ra) increased from 11.9 +/- 0.9 (rest) to 17.6 +/- 1.8 and 25.5 +/- 1.8 mumol.min-1.kg-1 at 52 and 82% VO2max, respectively. Peripheral glucose uptake was similar to Ra, and glucose remained at basal postabsorptive levels. During exercise the Ra increase as well as norepinephrine, insulin, and growth hormone responses were similar in LTX compared with both KTX and C. The increase in epinephrine was smaller in LTX than in C, the only group showing an increase in cortisol. The increase in plasma renin activity during exercise was attenuated in KTX compared with LTX and C. During exercise blood lactate rose more and plasma glycerol and free fatty acid levels were lower in LTX and KTX compared with C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of immobilization on glucose transport and glucose transporter expression in rat skeletal muscle.

The effect of 42-48 h of immobilization by casting on maximal velocity of 3-O-methylglucose (3-MG) transport in skeletal muscle was studied in the perfused rat hindquarter. Immobilization resulted in a decrease of approximately 42% for maximum insulin-stimulated 3-MG transport in fast-twitch red fibers and a decrease of approximately 42% for contraction-stimulated transport in slow-twitch red fibers compared with nonimmobilized control muscle. No effect of immobilization on 3-MG transport was found in fast-twitch white muscle. Combination of insulin and muscle contractions always resulted in glucose transport that was identical in immobilized and control muscle. Western blot did not detect a decrease in GLUT-1 or GLUT-4 protein with immobilization. Furthermore, in fast-twitch red fibers, insulin receptor number and receptor kinase activity did not differ between immobilized and control muscle. It is concluded that during short-term immobilization a resistance of muscle glucose transport to stimulation develops that is fiber type specific and selective for insulin or contractions. The resistance can be overcome by the combined action of insulin and contractions and reflect factors other than glucose transporter number and insulin receptor binding and receptor kinase activity.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Effect of training on epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis determined by microdialysis in human adipose tissue.

Trained humans (Tr) have a higher fat oxidation during submaximal physical work than sedentary humans (Sed). To investigate whether this reflects a higher adipose tissue lipolytic sensitivity to catecholamines, we infused epinephrine (0.3 nmol.kg-1.min-1) for 65 min in six athletes and six sedentary young men. Glycerol was measured in arterial blood, and intercellular glycerol concentrations in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured by microdialysis. Adipose tissue blood flow was measured by 133Xe-washout technique. From these measurements adipose tissue lipolysis was calculated. During epinephrine infusion intercellular glycerol concentrations were lower, but adipose tissue blood flow was higher in trained compared with sedentary subjects (P < 0.05). Glycerol output from subcutaneous tissue (Tr: 604 +/- 322 nmol.100 g-1.min-1; Sed: 689 +/- 203; mean +/- SD) as well as arterial glycerol concentrations (Tr: 129 +/- 36 microM; Sed: 119 +/- 56) did not differ between groups. It is concluded that in intact subcutaneous adipose tissue epinephrine-stimulated blood flow is enhanced, whereas lipolytic sensitivity to epinephrine is the same in trained compared with untrained subjects.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Effect of liver denervation on glucose production during running in guinea pigs.

Activity in sympathetic liver nerves has been proposed to be important for glucose production in exercising humans. However, liver denervation does not influence the exercise-induced increase in glucose production in the rat and dog. These species have a poor sympathetic liver innervation in contrast to the rich innervation in humans. The effect of liver denervation on glucose production during exercise was therefore studied in the guinea pig, a species with a rich sympathetic hepatic innervation comparable to that of humans. Guinea pigs were selectively liver denervated (n = 9) or sham operated (n = 8) and instrumented with a carotid and a jugular catheter. One week later they ran on a treadmill at 32 m/min for 20 min. Glucose turnover was evaluated by a primed constant-rate intravenous infusion of [3-3H]glucose. Arterial blood was sampled for analysis of hormones and metabolites. At rest, liver-denervated guinea pigs had lower glucose turnover and plasma concentrations of glucose, glycerol, and cortisol than control animals. During running, the increase in hepatic glucose production was similar in the two groups (4.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.7 mumol.min-1.100 g-1 in control animals) and so were hepatic (247 +/- 25 vs. 246 +/- 45 mmol glucose units/kg wet wt in control animals) and muscle glycogen concentrations at the end of exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effect of diet on insulin- and contraction-mediated glucose transport and uptake in rat muscle.

A diet rich in fat diminishes insulin-mediated glucose uptake in muscle. This study explored whether contraction-mediated glucose uptake is also affected. Rats were fed a diet rich in fat (FAT, 73% of energy) or carbohydrate (CHO, 66%) for 5 wk. Hindquarters were perfused, and either glucose uptake or glucose transport capacity (uptake of 3-O-[14C]-methyl-D-glucose (40 mM)) was measured. Amounts of glucose transporter isoform GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 glucose-transporting proteins were determined by Western blot. Glucose uptake was lower (P < 0.05) in hindlegs from FAT than from CHO rats at submaximum and maximum insulin [4 +/- 0.4 vs. 5 +/- 0.3 (SE) mumol.min-1.leg-1 at 150 microU/ml insulin] as well as during prolonged stimulation of the sciatic nerve (4.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.6 mumol.min-1.leg-1). Maximum glucose transport elicited by insulin (soleus: 1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.2 mumol.g-1.5 min-1, P < 0.05) or contractions (soleus: 1.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05) in red muscle was decreased in parallel in FAT compared with CHO rats. GLUT-4 content was decreased by 13-29% (P < 0.05) in the various fiber types, whereas GLUT-1 content was identical in FAT compared with CHO rats. It is concluded that a FAT diet reduces both insulin and contraction stimulation of glucose uptake in muscle and that these effects are associated with diminished skeletal muscle glucose transport capacities and GLUT-4 contents.

Animals↗

Stability of GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 expression in perfused rat muscle stimulated by insulin and exercise.

In vivo exercise and insulin may change the concentrations of GLUT-4 protein and mRNA in muscle. We studied in vitro whether adaptations in glucose transporter expression are initiated during a single prolonged period of contractions or during insulin stimulation. Rat hindquarters were perfused at 7 mM glucose for 2 h with or without insulin (> 20,000 microU/ml) while the sciatic nerve of one leg was stimulated to produce repeated tetanic contractions. During electrical stimulation, contraction force decreased 93 +/- 1% (SE; n = 26) and muscle glycogen was markedly diminished (P < 0.05). Both contractions and insulin markedly increased glucose transport and uptake (P < 0.05). At the end of contractions, glycogen was higher in the presence of than in the absence of insulin (24 +/- 4 vs. 14 +/- 3 mumol/g for the soleus and 13 +/- 2 vs. 8 +/- 1 mumol/g for the red gastrocnemius, respectively; P < 0.05). In nonstimulated muscle, glucose transporter mRNA and protein concentrations were higher in the soleus than in the white gastrocnemius (GLUT-4 mRNA 184 +/- 18 vs. 131 +/- 36 arbitrary units; GLUT-1 mRNA 173 +/- 29 vs. 114 +/- 26 arbitrary units; GLUT-4 protein 0.96 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.03 arbitrary units; GLUT-1 protein 0.41 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.05 arbitrary units, respectively; P < 0.05). These concentrations were not changed by contractions or insulin. In conclusion, GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 mRNA and protein levels are higher in slow-twitch oxidative than in fast-twitch glycolytic fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Normal effect of insulin to stimulate leg blood flow in NIDDM.

In patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), a decreased effect of insulin in stimulating leg blood flow (LBF) has been reported. We reinvestigated the effect of insulin on LBF and validated our data by use of other measures. Eight healthy men (control group) and seven men with NIDDM were studied (age 59 +/- 1 and 58 +/- 3 years, weight 83 +/- 3 and 86 +/- 6 kg, fat-free mass 66 +/- 1 and 64 +/- 3 kg, respectively [mean +/- SE, all P > 0.05]; body mass index 26 +/- 1 and 29 +/- 1 kg/m2, fasting plasma insulin 72 +/- 7 and 187 +/- 22 pmol/l, fasting plasma glucose 5.8 +/- 0.2 and 10.2 +/- 1.7 mmol/l [all P < 0.05]). A three-step hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp (ambient glucose level) was performed, combined with catheterization of an artery and both femoral veins. Expiratory air was collected, LBF was measured by thermodilution, and blood was sampled and analyzed for oxygen content. Insulin concentration was increased to 416 +/- 22 and 509 +/- 43 (step I), 1,170 +/- 79 and 1,299 +/- 122 (step II), and 15,936 +/- 1,126 and 16,524 +/- 1,916 (step III) pmol/l in control and NIDDM subjects, respectively (P > 0.05). LBF increased similarly (P > 0.05) in the two groups (from 287 +/- 23 and 302 +/- 12 [basal] to 308 +/- 31 and 362 +/- 9 [I], 371 +/- 29 and 409 +/- 17 [II], and 434 +/- 32 and 472 +/- 29 [III] ml.min-1.leg-1 in control and NIDDM subjects, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Insulin-stimulated muscle glucose clearance in patients with NIDDM. Effects of one-legged physical training.

Physical training increases insulin action in skeletal muscle in healthy men. In non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), only minor improvements in whole-body insulin action are seen. We studied the effect of training on insulin-mediated glucose clearance rates (GCRs) in the whole body and in leg muscle in seven patients with NIDDM and in eight healthy control subjects. One-legged training was performed for 10 weeks. GCR in whole body and in both legs were measured before, the day after, and 6 days after training by hyperinsulinemic (28, 88, and 480 mU x min(-1) x m(-2)), isoglycemic clamps combined with the leg balance technique. On the 5th day of detraining, one bout of exercise was performed with the nontraining leg. Muscle biopsies were obtained before and after training. Whole-body GCRs were always lower (P < 0.05) in NIDDM patients compared with control subjects and increased (P < 0.05) in response to training. In untrained muscle, GCR was lower (P < 0.05) in NIDDM patients (13 +/- 4, 91 +/- 9, and 148 +/- 12 ml/min) compared with control subjects (56 +/- 12, 126 +/- 14, and 180 +/- 14 ml/min). It Increased (P < 0.05) in both groups in response to training (43 +/- 10, 144 +/- 17, and 205 +/- 24 [NIDDM patients] and 84 +/- 10, 212 +/- 20, and 249 +/- 16 ml/min [control subjects]). Acute exercise did not increase leg GCR. In NIDDM patients, the effect of training was lost after 6 days, while the effect lasted longer in control subjects. Training increased (P < 0.05) muscle lactate production and glucose storage as well as glycogen synthase (GS) mRNA in both groups. We conclude that training increases insulin action in skeletal muscle in control subjects and NIDDM patients, and in NIDDM patients normal values may be obtained. The increase in trained muscle cannot fully account for the increase in whole-body GCR. Improvements in GCR involve enhancement of insulin-mediated increase in muscle blood flow and the ability to extract glucose. They are accompanied by enhanced nonoxidative glucose disposal and increases in GS mRNA. The improvements in insulin action are short-lived.

Analysis of Variance↗

Hypoxia and training-induced adaptation of hormonal responses to exercise in humans.

To establish whether or not hypoxia influences the training-induced adaptation of hormonal responses to exercise, 21 healthy, untrained subjects (2) years, mean (SE)] were studied in three groups before and after 5 weeks' training (cycle ergometer, 45 min.day-1, 5 days.week-1). Group 1 trained at sea level at 70% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), group 2 in a hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 2500 m at 70% of altitude VO2max, and group 3 at a simulated altitude of 2500 m at the same absolute work rate as group 1. Arterial blood was sampled before, during and at the end of exhaustive cycling at sea level (85% of pretraining VO2max). VO2max increased by 12 (2)% with no significant difference between groups, whereas endurance improved most in group 1 (P < 0.05). Training-induced changes in response to exercise of noradrenaline, adrenaline, growth hormone, beta-endorphin, glucagon, and insulin were similar in the three groups. Concentrations of erythropoietin and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate at rest did not change over the training period. In conclusion, within 5 weeks of training, no further adaptation of hormonal exercise responses takes place if intensity is increased above 70% VO2max. Furthermore, hypoxia per se does not add to the training-induced hormonal responses to exercise.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

No reinnervation of hepatic sympathetic nerves after liver transplantation in human subjects.

Transplantation of the liver results in surgical denervation of the organ. However, it is not known whether and to what extent sympathetic reinnervation occurs postoperatively in the transplanted human liver. Thirty-two liver biopsies (right lobe) were obtained from 13 liver-transplanted patients 1, 3, 6, 12 or 30 months after transplantation and 11 biopsies were obtained from 11 non-transplanted subjects with normal liver tests. The concentrations of the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine and of epinephrine were determined in liver tissue homogenates. The concentration of norepinephrine was 0.019 +/- 0.05 nmol. g wet liver tissue-1 (mean and SE, n = 32) in the transplanted patients, which was only 1% of the concentration in biopsies from control subjects (2.180 +/- 0.420 nmol.g wet liver tissue-1). The hepatic norepinephrine concentration did not increase significantly over time in liver-transplanted patients during the observation period (0.015 +/- 0.008 nmol.g wet wt-1 (1 month post) (n = 8) vs. 0.024 +/- 0.018 nmol.g wet wt-1 (12 months post) (n = 6) and 0.012 +/- 0.006 nmol.g wet wt-1 (30 months post) (n = 5)) (p < 0.05). The liver tissue concentration of epinephrine was markedly lower in liver-transplanted subjects (0.01 +/- 0.003 nmol.g wet tissue-1) than in control subjects (0.04 +/- 0.007 nmol.g-1) (p < 0.01). This study indicates that within the first years after transplantation, there is no evidence of sympathetic liver nerve reinnervation in liver-transplanted patients.

Epinephrine↗

Evidence that the effect of bicycle exercise on blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses and subsets is mediated by epinephrine.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the exercise-induced changes in blood mononuclear cell (BMNC) subsets, BMNC proliferative responses and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell activity are mediated by increased epinephrine concentrations. Healthy male volunteers 1) exercised on a bicycle ergometer (75% of VO2max, 1 h) and 2) on another day were given epinephrine as an intravenous infusion to obtain plasma epinephrine concentrations comparable with those seen during exercise. Blood samples were collected in the basal state, during the last minutes of exercise or epinephrine infusion and 2 h later. During both perturbations the %CD3+ and %CD4+ T cells declined and the %CD16+ NK cells increased. Two h afterwards the CD14+ monocytes increased, while no changes were observed in %CD8+ T cells or %CD20+ B cells. The phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response declined during both epinephrine infusion and exercise experiments. The changes in interleukin-2 (IL-2) effect on proliferation and cytotoxic activity (LAK cell activity) were more pronounced in exercise experiments than during epinephrine. Exercise and epinephrine caused increase in concentrations of lymphocytes and neutrophils, but the changes were more pronounced in exercise experiments. The results indicate that, in response to physical exercise, the rise in plasma epinephrine may contribute to the changes in cellular immunity.

Adult↗