Decrescent intensity training concurrently improves maximal anaerobic power, maximal accumulated oxygen deficit, and maximal oxygen uptake.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a gradually decreasing intensity training from that corresponding to maximal anaerobic power (MAnP) to that of near maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) (decrescent intensity training) on MAnP, maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD), and [Formula: see text] in untrained young men. Seventeen untrained young men were randomly divided into either a training (TR; n = 9) group or a control (CON; n = 8) group. The TR group performed the decrescent intensity training, whereas the CON group did not perform any exercises. The mean training time per session throughout the training period was 275 ± 135 s. There was a Group × Time interaction for both absolute and relative (p < 0.01) values of [Formula: see text], MAOD, and MAnP. The TR group had significantly increased values for all variables after the 8-week training program, and the relative values of all variables were significantly higher in the TR group than in the CON group. Muscle thicknesses in the anterior and posterior aspects of the thigh and maximal isokinetic knee extension and flexion strengths improved only in the TR group (p < 0.05). A single-exercise training with gradually decreasing intensity from that corresponding to the MAnP to that of approximately 100% [Formula: see text] improves MAnP, MAOD, and [Formula: see text] concurrently, despite the short training time per session.

Heat stress activates the Akt/mTOR signalling pathway in rat skeletal muscle.

AIM: It is well known that various stimuli, such as mechanical stress and nutrients, induce muscle hypertrophy thorough the Akt/mTOR signalling pathway, which is a key mediator of protein synthesis and hypertrophy in skeletal muscle. It was recently reported that heat stress also induces an increase in muscle weight and muscle protein content. In addition, heat stress enhances Akt/mTOR signalling after one bout of resistance exercise. However, it remains unclear whether increased temperature itself stimulates the Akt/mTOR signalling pathway. METHODS: Forty-two male Wistar rats (279.5 ± 1.2 g) were divided into a control group (CON) or one of five thermal stress groups at 37, 38, 39, 40 or 41 °C (n = 7 each group). After overnight fasting, both legs were immersed in different temperatures of hot water for 30 min under sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia. The soleus and plantaris muscles were immediately removed from both legs after the thermal stress. RESULTS: The phosphorylation of mTOR or 4E-BP1 and heat shock protein (HSP) expression levels were similar among groups in both the soleus and plantaris muscles. However, Akt and p70S6K phosphorylation significantly increased at 41 °C in the soleus and plantaris muscles. Moreover, we observed a temperature-dependent increase in Akt and p70S6K phosphorylation in both muscles. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the altered temperature increased phosphorylation in a temperature-dependent manner in rat skeletal muscle and may itself be a key stimulator of Akt/mTOR signalling.

Satellite cell pool enhancement in rat plantaris muscle by endurance training depends on intensity rather than duration.

AIM: Increases in the number of satellite cells are necessary for the maintenance of normal muscle function. Endurance training enhances the satellite cell pool. However, it remains unclear whether exercise intensity or exercise duration is more important to enhance the satellite cell pool. This study examined the effects of different intensity and duration of endurance training on the satellite cell pool in rat skeletal muscle. METHODS: Forty-one 17-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control (n = 8), high intensity and high duration (n = 7), high intensity and low duration (n = 8), low intensity and high duration (n = 9) and low intensity and low duration (n = 9) groups. Training groups exercised 5 days per week on a motor driven treadmill for 10 weeks. After the training period, animals were anaesthetized and the plantaris muscles were removed, weighed and analysed for immunohistochemical and histochemical properties. RESULTS: Although no significant differences were found in muscle mass, mean fibre area and myonuclei per muscle fibre between all groups, the percentage of satellite cells was significantly higher in the high-intensity groups than in the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increases in the satellite cell pool of skeletal muscle following endurance training depend on the intensity rather than duration of exercise.

Different adaptations of alpha-actinin isoforms to exercise training in rat skeletal muscles.

AIM: Alpha (alpha)-actinins are located in the skeletal muscle Z-line and form actin-actin cross-links. Mammalian skeletal muscle has two isoforms: alpha-actinin-2 and alpha-actinin-3. However, the response of alpha-actinin to exercise training is little understood. Therefore, the current study examined the effects of exercise training on the expression level of two alpha-actinin isoforms in skeletal muscles. METHODS: Twelve male Wistar rats were assigned randomly to a control (C; n = 6) or exercise training (T; n = 6) group. After T animals were trained on an animal treadmill for 9 weeks, alpha-actinin-2 and alpha-actinin-3 levels in the plantaris, white and red gastrocnemius muscles were analysed. In addition, changes in the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition were assessed, and muscle bioenergetic enzyme activities were measured. RESULTS: Results show that exercise training increased alpha-actinin-2 expression levels in all muscles (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in alpha-actinin-3 expression levels between C and T animals. Subsequent MyHC analyses of all muscle showed an MyHC shift with direction from IIb to IIa. Furthermore, enzymatic analysis revealed that exercise training improved enzyme activities related to aerobic metabolism. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that exercise training alters the expression level of alpha-actinin at the isoform level. Moreover, the increase in expression levels of alpha-actinin-2 is apparently related to alteration of skeletal muscle: its aerobic capacity is improved.

[Comparison of submaximal front crawl and breast stroke swimming in relation to energy expenditure].

The purpose of this study was to compare the energy expenditure during submaximal front crawl (Fr) and breast stroke (Br) swimming. Six male college swimmers performed submaximal and maximal exercise tests in both styles in a swimming flume. In submaximal exercise tests, they swam at the following given velocities for 5 min, Br: 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 m/sec; Fr: 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 m/sec. In maximal exercise tests, following submaximal swimming at 0.9 m/sec in Br and 1.1 m/sec in Fr, swimming velocity was increased progressively by 0.1 m/sec every 1 min until the subjects reached to voluntary exhaustion. VO2max obtained from the maximal swimming tests in Br and Fr were 4.27 and 4.18 l/min, respectively. And there was no significant difference between these two values. VO2 during Br and Fr swimming at four and five submaximal velocities were 1.06, 1.30, 1.79, 2.65 l/min and 1.17, 1.34, 1.63, 2.04, 3.05 l/min, respectively. And, it was found that VO2 at 0.3 and 0.9 m/sec were significantly different (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) between Fr and Br. VO2 in both styles curvilinearly increased with swimming velocity, and these relationships were well fitted for the regression equation of the second order (Br: y = 3.84625x2 - 1.95914x + 1.310463,r2 = 0.999 (p < 0.05), Fr: y = 3.233446x2 - 2.28136x + 1.611524, r2 = 0.979 (p < 0.05)). It was calculated that the two curves crossed at a point on 0.49 m/sec, and that VO2 at this point was 1.27 l/min. This value equivalented to 30.4% VO2max in Br and 29.7% VO2max in Fr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)