Skeletal muscle fiber type and TMS-induced muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued knee-extensor muscles.

The force drop after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) delivered to the motor cortex during voluntary muscle contractions could inform about muscle relaxation properties. Because of the physiological relation between skeletal muscle fiber-type distribution and size and muscle relaxation, TMS could be a noninvasive index of muscle relaxation in humans. By combining a noninvasive technique to record muscle relaxation in vivo (TMS) with the gold standard technique for muscle tissue sampling (muscle biopsy), we investigated the relation between TMS-induced muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued states, and muscle fiber-type distribution and size. Sixteen participants (7F/9M) volunteered to participate. Maximal knee-extensor voluntary isometric contractions were performed with TMS before and after a 2-min sustained maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Vastus lateralis muscle tissue was obtained separately from the participants' dominant limb. Fiber type I distribution and relative cross-sectional area of fiber type I correlated with TMS-induced muscle relaxation at baseline (r = 0.67, adjusted P = 0.01; r = 0.74, adjusted P = 0.004, respectively) and normalized TMS-induced muscle relaxation as a percentage of baseline (r = 0.50, adjusted P = 0.049; r = 0.56, adjusted P = 0.031, respectively). The variance in the normalized peak relaxation rate at baseline (59.8%, P < 0.001) and in the fatigue resistance (23.0%, P = 0.035) were explained by the relative cross-sectional area of fiber type I to total fiber area. Fiber type I proportional area influences TMS-induced muscle relaxation, suggesting TMS as an alternative method to noninvasively inform about skeletal muscle relaxation properties.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced muscle relaxation reflects intrinsic muscle contractile properties by interrupting the drive from the central nervous system during voluntary muscle contractions. We showed that fiber type I proportional area influences the TMS-induced muscle relaxation, suggesting that TMS could be used for the noninvasive estimation of muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued human muscles when the feasibility of more direct method to study relaxation properties (i.e., muscle biopsy) is restricted.

The effects of residual dipolar coupling on carnosine in proton muscle spectra.

Carnosine, an MR-visible dipeptide in human muscle, is well characterized by two peaks at ~8 and ~7 ppm from C2 and C4 imidazole protons. Like creatine and other metabolites, carnosine is subject to residual dipolar coupling in the anisotropic environment of muscle fibers, but the effects have not been studied extensively. Single-voxel TE 30-32 PRESS spectra from three different 3T studies were acquired from gastrocnemius medialis and soleus muscles in the human lower leg. In these studies, carnosine T2 values were measured, and spectra were obtained at three different foot angles. LCModel was used to fit the carnosine peaks with a basis set that was generated using shaped RF pulses and included a range of dipolar couplings affecting the C4 peak. A seven-parameter analytic expression was used to fit the CH2 doublets of creatine. It incorporated an optimized "effective TE" value to model the effect of shaped RF pulses. The fits confirm that the triplet C4 peak of carnosine is dipolar coupled to a pair of CH2 protons, with no need to include a contribution from a separate pool of freely rotating uncoupled carnosine. Moreover, the couplings experienced by carnosine C4 protons and creatine CH2 protons are strongly correlated (R2 = 0.88, P<0.001), exhibiting a similar 3cos2 θ - 1 dependence on the angle θ between fiber orientation and B0. T2 values for the singlet C2 peak of gastrocnemius carnosine are inversely proportional to the C4 dipolar coupling strength (R2 = 0.97, P < 0.001), which in turn is a function of foot orientation. This dependence indicates that careful positioning of the foot while acquiring lower leg muscle spectra is important to obtain reproducible carnosine concentrations. As proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of carnosine is currently used to non-invasively estimate the muscle fiber typology, these results have important implications in sport science.

In professional football the decline in high-intensity running activities from first to second half is more pronounced in players with a fast muscle typology.

Muscle typology is heterogeneous among national level football (soccer) players, but positional differences remain unclear. Furthermore, fast typology (FT) individuals fatigue more than slow typology (ST) individuals in lab conditions. Therefore, we investigated if muscle typology is different between playing positions and if the decay in high-intensity activities from the first to the second half is larger in FT football players than in ST players. We estimated muscle typology in 147 male professional football players by measuring soleus and gastrocnemius muscle carnosine via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Players were classified as ST, intermediate typology (IT) or FT and categorized as goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger or forward. Across four seasons in-game distances covered in multiple running speed, acceleration and deceleration zones were collected during the first and second half. We found no differences in muscle typology between positions (p = 0.412). FT players covered 10.9% more high acceleration distance (>3 m.s-2 ) in the first half than ST players (p = 0.021) and high acceleration distance decay was larger for FT players (-12.4%) than ST (-7.7%; p = 0.006) and IT players (-7.3%; p = 0.010). Moreover, the decline in distance covered in several high-intensity zones tended to be larger in FT players (-11.2% high-intensity >15 km.h-1 ; -12.7% high deceleration <-3 m.s-2 ; -11.5% medium acceleration 2-3 m.s-2 ) than in ST players (-7.1% high-intensity; -8.1% high deceleration; -8.1% medium acceleration; 0.05 < p < 0.1). In conclusion, possessing a particular muscle typology is not required to play any football position at the national level. However, there are indications that FT players might fatigue more toward the end of the game compared to ST players.

Match Running Performance in Australian Football Is Related to Muscle Fiber Typology.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between muscle fiber typology and match running performance in professional Australian football (AF) athletes. METHODS: An observational time-motion analysis was performed on 23 professional AF athletes during 224 games throughout the 2020 competitive season. Athletes were categorized by position as hybrid, small, or tall. Athlete running performance was measured using Global Navigation Satellite System devices. Mean total match running performance and maximal mean intensity values were calculated for moving mean durations between 1 and 10 minutes for speed (in meters per minute), high-speed-running distance (HSR, >4.17 m·s-1), and acceleration (in meters per second squared), while intercept and slopes were calculated using power law. Carnosine content was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the gastrocnemius and soleus and expressed as a carnosine aggregate z score (CAZ score) to estimate muscle fiber typology. Mixed linear models were used to determine the association between CAZ score and running performance. RESULTS: The mean (range) CAZ score was -0.60 (-1.89 to 1.25), indicating that most athletes possessed a greater estimated proportion of type I muscle fibers. A greater estimated proportion of type I fibers (ie, lower CAZ score) was associated with a larger accumulation of HSR (>4.17 m·s-1) and an increased ability to maintain HSR as the peak period duration increased. CONCLUSION: AF athletes with a greater estimated proportion of type I muscle fibers were associated with a greater capacity to accumulate distance running at high speeds, as well as a greater capacity to maintain higher output of HSR running during peak periods as duration increases.

The Relevance of Muscle Fiber Type to Physical Characteristics and Performance in Team-Sport Athletes.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to (1) determine the muscle fiber-type composition (or muscle fiber typology [MFT]) of team-sport athletes and (2) examine associations between MFT and the physical characteristics and performance tasks in team-sport athletes. METHODS: Searches were conducted across numerous databases-PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar-using consistent search terms. Studies were included if they examined the MFT of team-sport athletes. Included studies underwent critical appraisal using the McMasters University critical appraisal tool for quantitative research. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included in the present review, wherein the MFT of athletes was measured from 5 different team sports (soccer, rugby union, rugby league, handball, and volleyball). There was large variability in the MFT of team-sport athletes both within (up to 27.5%) and between sports (24.0% relative difference). Male football players with a higher proportion of type II fibers had faster 10- and 30-m sprint times, achieved a greater total distance sprinting (distance at >6.67 m·s-1), and a greater peak 1-minute sprint distance. CONCLUSIONS: MFT varies considerably between athletes both within and between different team sports. The results from some studies suggest that variation in MFT is associated with high-intensity running performance in a football match, as well as 10- and 30-m sprint times. Further experimental studies should focus on how determination of the MFT of team-sport athletes could be utilized to influence talent identification, team selection, and the individualization of training.

Ellagic Acid Alters Muscle Fiber-Type Composition and Promotes Mitochondrial Biogenesis through the AMPK Signaling Pathway in Healthy Pigs.

Ellagic acid (EA), because of its remarkable health-promoting ability, has aroused widespread interest in the fields of nutrition and medicine. However, no reports showed that EA regulates mitochondrial biogenesis as well as muscle fiber-type composition in pigs. Our study found that dietary 75 and 150 mg/kg EA obviously augmented the slow myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein level, the number of slow-twitch muscle fibers, and the activity of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle of growing-finishing pigs. In contrast, dietary 75 and 150 mg/kg EA decreased the fast MyHC level, the number of fast-twitch muscle fibers, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the LT muscle. In addition, our further study found that dietary 75 and 150 mg/kg EA promoted the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content, the mRNA expressions of ATP synthase (ATP5G), mtDNA transcription factor A (TFAM), AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), and the level of phospho-LKB1 (P-LKB1), phospho-AMPK (P-AMPK), Sirt1, and PGC-1α in the LT muscle. In vitro, 5, 10, and 20 µmol/L EA treatment upregulated the level of slow MyHC, but only 10 µmol/L EA treatment decreased fast MyHC protein expression in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells (PSCs). In addition, our data again found that 10 µmol/L EA treatment promoted the mtDNA content, the mRNA levels of ATP5G, mitochondrial transcription factor b1 (TFB1M), citrate synthase (Cs), AMPKα1, PGC-1α, and Sirt1, and the protein expressions of P-AMPK, P-LKB1, PGC-1α, and Sirt1 in PSCs. What is more, inhibition of the AMPK signaling pathway by AMPKα1 siRNA significantly eliminated the improvement of EA on muscle fiber-type composition as well as the mtDNA content in PSCs. In conclusion, EA altered muscle fiber-type composition and promoted mitochondrial biogenesis through the AMPK signaling pathway.

The Muscle Typology of Elite and World-Class Swimmers.

PURPOSE: To examine whether the muscle typology of elite and world-class swimmers could discriminate between their best distance event, swimming stroke style, or performance level. METHODOLOGY: The muscle carnosine content of 43 male (860 [76] FINA [Fédération Internationale de Natation] points) and 30 female (881 [63] FINA points) swimmers was measured in the soleus and gastrocnemius by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and expressed as a carnosine aggregate Z score (CAZ score) to estimate muscle typology. A higher CAZ score is associated with a higher estimated proportion of type II fibers. Swimmers were categorized by their best stroke, distance category (sprinters, 50-100 m; middle distance, 200-400 m; or long distance, 800 m-open water), and performance level (world-class, world top 10, or elite and world top 100 swimmers outside of the world top 10). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the CAZ score of sprint- (-0.08 [0.55]), middle- (-0.17 [0.70]), or long-distance swimmers (-0.30 [0.75], P = .693). World-class sprint swimmers (all strokes included) had a significantly higher CAZ score (0.37 [0.70]) when compared to elite sprint swimmers (-0.25 [0.61], P = .024, d = 0.94). Breaststroke swimmers (0.69 [0.73]) had a significantly higher CAZ score compared to freestyle (-0.24 [0.54], P < .001, d = 1.46), backstroke (-0.16 [0.47], P = .006, d = 1.42), and butterfly swimmers (-0.39 [0.53], P < .001, d = 1.70). Furthermore, within the cohort of breaststroke swimmers, there was a significant positive correlation between FINA points and CAZ score (r = .728, P = .011); however, this association was not evident in other strokes. CONCLUSION: While there was no clear association between muscle typology and event distance specialization, world-class sprint swimmers possess a greater estimated proportion of type II fibers compared to elite sprint swimmers, as well as breaststroke swimmers compared to freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly swimmers.

Muscle fiber typology is associated with the incidence of overreaching in response to overload training.

The aim of this study was to identify markers of training stress and characteristics of middle-distance runners related to the incidence of overreaching following overload training. Twenty-four highly trained middle-distance runners [n = 16 male, peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak) = 73.3 (4.3) mL·kg·min-1; n = 8 female, V̇o2peak = 63.2 (3.4) mL·kg·min-1] completed 3 wk of normal training (NormTr), 3 wk of high-volume training (HVTr; a 10%, 20%, and 30% increase in training volume each successive week from NormTr), and 1 wk of taper (TapTr; 55% exponential reduction in training volume from HVTr week 3). Before and immediately after each training period, an incremental treadmill-running test was performed, while resting metabolic rate (RMR), subjective fatigue responses, and various resting blood biomarkers were assessed. Muscle fiber typology of the gastrocnemius was estimated by quantification of muscle carnosine using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and expressed as a z-score relative to a nonathlete control group. Twelve runners were classified as functionally overreached (FOR) following HVTr [decreased running time to exhaustion (TTE)], whereas the other 12 were classified as acutely fatigued (AF; no decrease in running TTE). The FOR group did not demonstrate systematic alterations in RMR, resting blood biomarkers, or submaximal exercise responses, compared with the AF group. The gastrocnemius carnosine z-score was significantly higher in the FOR group (-0.44 ± 0.57) than in the AF group (-1.25 ± 0.49, P = 0.004, d = 1.53) and was also negatively correlated with changes in running TTE from pre- to post-HVTr (r = -0.55, P = 0.005) and from pre-HVTr to post-TapTr (r = -0.64, P = 0.008). Muscle fiber typology is related to the incidence of overreaching and performance supercompensation following increased training volume and a taper.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Variability in the performance responses following an overload training period and subsequent taper was associated with the variation in the muscle fiber typology of the gastrocnemius. Runners with an estimated higher proportion of type I fibers (i.e., lower carnosine z-score) were able to maintain performance in response to an overload training period and subsequently achieve a superior performance supercompensation. These findings show that muscle fiber typology contributes to the variability in performance responses following training.

Muscle fiber typology substantially influences time to recover from high-intensity exercise.

Human fast-twitch muscle fibers generate high power in a short amount of time but are easily fatigued, whereas slow-twitch fibers are more fatigue resistant. The transfer of this knowledge to coaching is hampered by the invasive nature of the current evaluation of muscle typology by biopsies. Therefore, a noninvasive method was developed to estimate muscle typology through proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the gastrocnemius. The aim of this study was to investigate whether male subjects with an a priori-determined fast typology (FT) are characterized by a more pronounced Wingate exercise-induced fatigue and delayed recovery compared with subjects with a slow typology (ST). Ten subjects with an estimated higher percentage of fast-twitch fibers and 10 subjects with an estimated higher percentage of slow-twitch fibers underwent the test protocol, consisting of three 30-s all-out Wingate tests. Recovery of knee extension torque was evaluated by maximal voluntary contraction combined with electrical stimulation up to 5 h after the Wingate tests. Although both groups delivered the same mean power across all Wingates, the power drop was higher in the FT group (-61%) compared with the ST group (-41%). The torque at maximal voluntary contraction had fully recovered in the ST group after 20 min, whereas the FT group had not yet recovered 5 h into recovery. This noninvasive estimation of muscle typology can predict the extent of fatigue and time to recover following repeated all-out exercise and may have applications as a tool to individualize training and recovery cycles.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A one-fits-all training regime is present in most sports, though the same training implies different stimuli in athletes with a distinct muscle typology. Individualization of training based on this muscle typology might be important to optimize performance and to lower the risk for accumulated fatigue and potentially injury. When conducting research, one should keep in mind that the muscle typology of participants influences the severity of fatigue and might therefore impact the results.

Effects of Active Immunization Against Akirin2 on Muscle Fiber-type Composition in Pigs.

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of active immunization against Akirin2 on muscle fiber-type composition in pigs. Here we showed that the titer of Akirin2 antibody in pigs immunized with porcine Akirin2 (pAkirin2) was significantly increased. Active immunization against pAkirin2 decreased succinic dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activities and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity in the longissimus dorsi muscle of pigs. Active immunization against pAkirin2 significantly decreased MyHC I and MyHC IIa mRNA expressions and MyHC I protein expression and increased mRNA expressions of MyHC IIb as well as protein expressions of MyHC IIb and fast-MyHC. mRNA expressions of nuclear factors of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1), transcriptional coactivator PPARγ coactivator-1α, myocyte enhancer factor 2C, and modulatory calcineurin interacting protein 1 exon 4 isform were also notably decreased by active immunization against pAkirin2. Together, our data imply that active immunization against pAkirin2 may result in a slow to fast fiber-type shift in pigs, and which may be mediated by suppression of the calcineurin/NFATc1 signaling pathway.

Treadmill Slope Modulates Inflammation, Fiber Type Composition, Androgen, and Glucocorticoid Receptors in the Skeletal Muscle of Overtrained Mice.

Overtraining (OT) may be defined as an imbalance between excessive training and adequate recovery period. Recently, a downhill running-based overtraining (OTR/down) protocol induced the nonfunctional overreaching state, which is defined as a performance decrement that may be associated with psychological and hormonal disruptions and promoted intramuscular and systemic inflammation. To discriminate the eccentric contraction effects on interleukin 1beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, and SOCS-3, we compared the release of these cytokines in OTR/down with other two OT protocols with the same external load (i.e., the product between training intensity and volume), but performed in uphill (OTR/up) and without inclination (OTR). Also, we evaluated the effects of these OT models on the muscle morphology and fiber type composition, serum levels of fatigue markers and corticosterone, as well as androgen receptor (AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expressions. For extensor digitorum longus (EDL), OTR/down and OTR groups increased the cytokines and exhibited micro-injuries with polymorphonuclear infiltration. While OTR/down group increased the cytokines in soleus muscle, OTR/up group only increased IL-6. All OT groups presented micro-injuries with polymorphonuclear infiltration. In serum, while OTR/down and OTR/up protocols increased IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, OTR group increased IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-15, and corticosterone. The type II fibers in EDL and soleus, total and phosphorylated AR levels in soleus, and total GR levels in EDL and soleus were differentially modulated by the OT protocols. In summary, the proinflammatory cytokines were more sensitive for OTR/down than for OTR/up and OTR. Also, the specific treadmill inclination of each OT model influenced most of the other evaluated parameters.

Relationships among muscle fiber type composition, fiber diameter and MRF gene expression in different skeletal muscles of naturally grazing Wuzhumuqin sheep during postnatal development.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among muscle fiber-type composition, fiber diameter, and myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) gene expression in different skeletal muscles during development in naturally grazing Wuzhumuqin sheep. Three major muscles (i.e. the Longissimus dorsi (LD), Biceps femoris (BF) and Triceps brachii (TB)) were obtained from 20 Wuzhumuqin sheep and 20 castrated rams at each of the following ages: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Muscle fiber-type composition and fiber diameter were measured using histochemistry and morphological analysis, and MRF gene expression levels were determined using real-time PCR. In the LD muscle, changes in the proportion of each of different types of fiber (I, IIA and IIB) were relatively small. In the BF muscle, a higher proportion of type I and a 6.19-fold lower proportion of type IIA fibers were observed (P < 0.05). In addition, the compositions of type I and IIA fibers continuously changed in the TB muscle (P < 0.05). Moreover, muscle diameter gradually increased throughout development (P < 0.05). Almost no significant difference was found in MRF gene expression patterns, which appeared to be relatively stable. These results suggest that changes in fiber-type composition and increases in fiber size may be mutually interacting processes during muscle development.

Nitrate Intake Promotes Shift in Muscle Fiber Type Composition during Sprint Interval Training in Hypoxia.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) in normoxia, vs. SIT in hypoxia alone or in conjunction with oral nitrate intake, on buffering capacity of homogenized muscle (ßhm) and fiber type distribution, as well as on sprint and endurance performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven moderately-trained participants were allocated to one of three experimental groups: SIT in normoxia (20.9% FiO2) + placebo (N), SIT in hypoxia (15% FiO2) + placebo (H), or SIT in hypoxia + nitrate supplementation (HN). All participated in 5 weeks of SIT on a cycle ergometer (30-s sprints interspersed by 4.5 min recovery-intervals, 3 weekly sessions, 4-6 sprints per session). Nitrate (6.45 mmol NaNO3) or placebo capsules were administered 3 h before each session. Before and after SIT participants performed an incremental VO2max-test, a 30-min simulated cycling time-trial, as well as a 30-s cycling sprint test. Muscle biopsies were taken from m. vastus lateralis. RESULTS: SIT decreased the proportion of type IIx muscle fibers in all groups (P < 0.05). The relative number of type IIa fibers increased (P < 0.05) in HN (P < 0.05 vs. H), but not in the other groups. SIT had no significant effect on ßhm. Compared with H, SIT tended to enhance 30-s sprint performance more in HN than in H (P = 0.085). VO2max and 30-min time-trial performance increased in all groups to a similar extent. CONCLUSION: SIT in hypoxia combined with nitrate supplementation increases the proportion of type IIa fibers in muscle, which may be associated with enhanced performance in short maximal exercise. Compared with normoxic training, hypoxic SIT does not alter ßhm or endurance and sprinting exercise performance.

Strength training improves cycling performance, fractional utilization of VO2max and cycling economy in female cyclists.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adding heavy strength training to well-trained female cyclists' normal endurance training on cycling performance. Nineteen female cyclists were randomly assigned to 11 weeks of either normal endurance training combined with heavy strength training (E+S, n = 11) or to normal endurance training only (E, n = 8). E+S increased one repetition maximum in one-legged leg press and quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) more than E (P < 0.05), and improved mean power output in a 40-min all-out trial, fractional utilization of VO2 max and cycling economy (P < 0.05). The proportion of type IIAX-IIX muscle fibers in m. vastus lateralis was reduced in E+S with a concomitant increase in type IIA fibers (P < 0.05). No changes occurred in E. The individual changes in performance during the 40-min all-out trial was correlated with both change in IIAX-IIX fiber proportion (r = -0.63) and change in muscle CSA (r = 0.73). In conclusion, adding heavy strength training improved cycling performance, increased fractional utilization of VO2 max , and improved cycling economy. The main mechanisms behind these improvements seemed to be increased quadriceps muscle CSA and fiber type shifts from type IIAX-IIX toward type IIA.

Association of blood glucose, blood lactate, serum cortisol levels, muscle metabolites, muscle fiber type composition, and pork quality traits.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of blood glucose levels with blood lactate, serum cortisol levels, postmortem muscle glycogen and lactate content, muscle fiber type composition, and pork quality traits. Compared to pigs with lower blood glucose levels, pigs with higher blood glucose levels showed higher blood lactate and serum cortisol levels at exsanguination, and they had lower residual glycogen and higher lactate content in the muscle at 45min postmortem. In addition, pigs with higher blood glucose levels had higher type IIB and lower type I area composition and finally exhibited lower muscle pH, paler color, and excessive loss of fluid on surface. These results imply that measuring blood glucose levels at exsanguination can be useful to indicate early glycolytic rates during postmortem and thus may be of value in the identification of pork with undesirable quality traits.