Decreased glucose turnover following short-term training is unaccompanied by changes in muscle oxidative potential. Phillips, S. M., H. J. Green, M. A. Tarnopolsky, and S. M. Grant. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1 and Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5
APStracts 2:0055E, 1995.
This study investigated the hypothesis that training induced reductions in exercise blood glucose utilization can occur independently of increases in muscle mitochondrial potential. To induce a training adaptation, eight active participants (23+/-1 yr, 80.6+/-3.7 kg, mean+/-SE) with a maximal oxygen consumption (O2max) of 45.5+/-2.4 ml/kg/min, cycled at 59% O2 max for 2h per day for 10 consecutive days. Measurements of blood glucose appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd), using a primed continuous infusion of [6,6 -2H2]glucose, were made during 90 min of cycle exercise (59% O2max) performance prior to (Pre) and following (Post) training. Training resulted in a 25% decrease (P<0.01) in mean glucose Ra during exercise (43.0+/-3.7 to 34.4+/-2.8 [mu]mol/kg/min). Since blood glucose concentration was not different between training conditions, glucose metabolic clearance rate was also depressed (P<0.05). Exercise induced glycogen depletion in vastus lateralis muscle was reduced (P<0.05) with training. Calculation of carbohydrate and fat oxidation based on the respiratory exchange ratio supported a shift towards greater preference for fat. Since training did not elicit changes in the maximal activities of citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase, two enzymes of the citric acid cycle, it would appear that increases in mitochondrial potential are not necessary for the adaptations that occurred.

Received 23 September 1994; accepted in final form 24 March 1995.
APS Manuscript Number E393-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on  4 April 1995.