Mitochondrial H2O2 production is reduced with acute and chronic eccentric exercise in rat skeletal muscle.

Oxidative stress with acute/chronic exercise has been so far examined using exercise involving a combination of concentric and eccentric contractions, but skeletal muscles are likely to be injured to a greater extent by pliometric contractions. In the present study, the effects of acute and chronic bouts of downhill running exercise on mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation (fluorimetric detection of a dimer with homovanillic acid in presence of horseradish peroxidase) and oxygen consumption in conjunction with antioxidant enzymes activity were examined. The results show that acute eccentric exercise was accompanied by a significantly reduced mitochondrial H2O2 production that is likely due to a decrease in complex I of the electron transport chain (ETC). On the other hand, eccentric training leads to positive adaptations, reflected by a higher citrate synthase activity and decreased mitochondrial H2O2 production. The decrease in mitochondrial H2O2 cannot be attributed to alterations in antioxidant capacities but rather to changes in mitochondrial membrane composition characterized by an increased polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio, and decreased contents in arachidonic acid and plasmalogens. These results suggest that changes in mitochondrial membrane properties with eccentric training can affect H2O2 production by muscle mitochondria. It is hypothesized that these changes resulted in a mild uncoupling sufficient to reduce electron back flow through complex I of the ETC, the major generator of reactive oxygen species by skeletal muscle mitochondria.

Evaluation by blue native polyacrylamide electrophoresis colorimetric staining of the effects of physical exercise on the activities of mitochondrial complexes in rat muscle.

Blue native polyacrylamide electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) is a technique developed for the analysis of membrane complexes. Combined with histochemical staining, it permits the analysis and quantification of the activities of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzymes using whole muscle homogenates, without the need to isolate muscle mitochondria. Mitochondrial complex activities were measured by emerging gels in a solution containing all specific substrates for NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase enzymes (complexes I and IV, respectively) and the colored bands obtained were measured by optique densitometry. The objective of the present study was the application of BN-PAGE colorimetric staining for enzymatic characterization of mitochondrial complexes I and IV in rat muscles with different morphological and biochemical properties. We also investigated these activities at different times after acute exercise of rat soleus muscle. Although having fewer mitochondria than oxidative muscles, white gastrocnemius muscle presented a significantly higher activity (26.7 +/- 9.5) in terms of complex I/V ratio compared to the red gastrocnemius (3.8 +/- 0.65, P < 0.05) and soleus (9.8 +/- 0.9, P < 0.001) muscles. Furthermore, the complex IV/V ratio of white gastrocnemius muscle was always significantly higher when compared to the other muscles. Ninety-five minutes of exhaustive physical exercise induced a decrease in complex I/V and complex IV/V ratios after all resting times (0, 3 and 6 h) compared to control (P < 0.05), probably reflecting the oxidative damage due to increasing free radical production in mitochondria. These results demonstrate the possible and useful application of BN-PAGE-histochemical staining to physical exercise studies.

Evaluation by blue native polyacrylamide electrophoresis colorimetric staining of the effects of physical exercise on the activities of mitochondrial complexes in rat muscle

Blue native polyacrylamide electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) is a technique developed for the analysis of membrane complexes. Combined with histochemical staining, it permits the analysis and quantification of the activities of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzymes using whole muscle homogenates, without the need to isolate muscle mitochondria. Mitochondrial complex activities were measured by emerging gels in a solution containing all specific substrates for NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase enzymes (complexes I and IV, respectively) and the colored bands obtained were measured by optique densitometry. The objective of the present study was the application of BN-PAGE colorimetric staining for enzymatic characterization of mitochondrial complexes I and IV in rat muscles with different morphological and biochemical properties. We also investigated these activities at different times after acute exercise of rat soleus muscle. Although having fewer mitochondria than oxidative muscles, white gastrocnemius muscle presented a significantly higher activity (26.7 ± 9.5) in terms of complex I/V ratio compared to the red gastrocnemius (3.8 ± 0.65, P < 0.05) and soleus (9.8 ± 0.9, P < 0.001) muscles. Furthermore, the complex IV/V ratio of white gastrocnemius muscle was always significantly higher when compared to the other muscles. Ninety-five minutes of exhaustive physical exercise induced a decrease in complex I/V and complex IV/V ratios after all resting times (0, 3 and 6 h) compared to control (P < 0.05), probably reflecting the oxidative damage due to increasing free radical production in mitochondria. These results demonstrate the possible and useful application of BN-PAGE-histochemical staining to physical exercise studies.

Patient preferences for management of first-trimester incomplete spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. The probabilities for successful outcome between expectant treatment and dilatation and curettage for management of many first-trimester incomplete spontaneous abortions are comparable. The goal of this study was to assess patient preferences for expectant treatment compared with dilatation and curettage, and the effect of physician recommendation on these preferences. METHODS: During individual telephone interviews, patients were read a case scenario and two treatment options. They were educated about the estimated risks, outcomes, and costs associated with each option. The patients then verbally completed a questionnaire assessing their likelihood of choosing each option, their reasons for their choice, and the effect of physician recommendation. RESULTS: Seventy-five women between the ages of 18 and 45 years, recruited from a university-affiliated family medicine clinic, were interviewed. Of these women, 27 had experienced spontaneous abortion (cases), and 48 had not (controls). Seventy-two percent of all participants (confidence interval 0.62-0.82) were likely or highly likely to choose expectant treatment, 23% of women rated the likelihood of choosing this option unlikely or highly unlikely, and 5% were uncertain. No significant difference existed between the case and control populations regarding choice of treatment (P = .566). One half of the women stated they would change their choice given a physician's recommendation (55% control, 40% case, P < .03) CONCLUSIONS: Participants indicated a strong preference for expectant treatment, but gave physician recommendation a significant role in the final decision. Physicians need to offer both options to patients and consider individual patient preferences when making recommendations regarding management of first-trimester incomplete spontaneous abortion.