Near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring muscle oxygenation

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive method for monitoring oxygen availability and utilization by the tissues. In intact skeletal muscle, NIRS allows semi-quantitative measurements of haemoglobin plus myoglobin oxygenation (tissue O2 stores) and the haemoglobin volume. Specialized algorithms allow assessment of the oxidation-reduction (redox) state of the copper moiety (CuA) of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and, with the use of specific tracers, accurate assessment of regional blood flow. NIRS has demonstrated utility for monitoring changes in muscle oxygenation and blood flow during submaximal and maximal exercise and under pathophysiological conditions including cardiovascular disease and sepsis. During work, the extent to which skeletal muscles deoxygenate varies according to the type of muscle, type of exercise and blood flow response. In some instances, a strong concordance is demonstrated between the fall in O2 stores with incremental work and a decrease in CuA oxidation state. Under some pathological conditions, however, the changes in O2 stores and redox state may diverge substantially.     

Skin blood flow influences cerebral oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy during dynamic exercise

Purpose

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used to investigate cerebral oxygenation and/or neural activation during physiological conditions such as exercise. However, NIRS-determined cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin (O₂Hb) may not necessarily correspond to intracranial blood flow during dynamic exercise. To determine the selectivity of NIRS to assess cerebral oxygenation and neural activation during exercise, we examined the influence of changes in forehead skin blood flow (SkBF_head) on NIRS signals during dynamic exercise.

Methods

In ten healthy men (age: 20 ± 1 years), middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCA V _mean, via transcranial Doppler ultrasonography), SkBF_head (via laser Doppler flowmetry), and cerebral O₂Hb (via NIRS) were continuously measured. Each subject performed 60 % maximum heart rate moderate-intensity steady-state cycling exercise. To manipulate SkBF_head, facial cooling using a mist of cold water (~4 °C) was applied for 3 min during steady-state cycling.

Results

MCA V _mean significantly increased during exercise and remained unchanged with facial cooling. O₂Hb and SkBF_head were also significantly increased during exercise; however, both of these signals were lowered with facial cooling and returned to pre-cooling values with the removal of facial cooling. The changes in O₂Hb correlated significantly with the relative percent changes in SkBF_head in each individual (r = 0.71–0.99).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that during dynamic exercise NIRS-derived O₂Hb signal can be influenced by thermoregulatory changes in SkBF_head and therefore, may not be completely reflective of cerebral oxygenation or neural activation.     

The influence of circulatory difference on muscle oxygenation and fatigue during intermittent static dorsiflexion

This study aimed to examine the influences of circulatory difference on the utilization of O₂ and the progression of fatigue in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle during dorsiflexion exercise, with reference to different body postures. The subjects performed intermittent static dorsiflexion at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) up to exhaustion with the right leg either up or down relative to the heart. These exercises were performed with and without occluding muscle blood flow. Simultaneously with the surface electromyogram (EMG) measurement, total hemoglobin volume change and tissue oxygenation (S _tO₂) of TA were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). When the subjects performed an exhaustive intermittent dorsiflexion exercise at 50% MVC, the endurance time decreased in the leg up position. Also, the progression of fatigue in TA detected using EMG signals (i.e. integrated EMG and mean power frequency of EMG) was faster with the leg elevated. The NIRS data indicated a lower blood volume and S _tO₂ with the leg up than with the leg down during the exercise, which suggests that the deficit in the O₂ supply to exercising muscles demand was more apparent in the leg up position. However, these differences in EMG and NIRS data disappeared when the blood flow was restricted in both positions. From these results it is concluded that the difference in exercising muscle oxygenation between two different body postures influenced the progression of muscle fatigue and caused the difference in endurance performance.     

Carbon monoxide exposure during exercise performance: muscle and cerebral oxygenation

Aim: To investigate the effect of carbon monoxide (CO) in the inspired air as anticipated during peak hours of traffic in polluted megalopolises on cerebral, respiratory and leg muscle oxygenation during a constant‐power test (CPT). In addition, since O₂ breathing is used to hasten elimination of CO from the blood, we examined the effect of breathing O₂ following exposure to CO on cerebral and muscle oxygenation during a subsequent exercise test under CO conditions. Methods: Nine men participated in three trials: (i) 3‐h air exposure followed by a control CPT, (ii) 1‐h air and 2‐h CO (18.9 ppm) exposure succeeded by a CPT under CO conditions (CPT_COA), and (iii) 2‐h CO and 1‐h 100% normobaric O₂ exposure followed by a CPT under CO conditions (CPT_COB). All exercise tests were performed at 85% of peak power output to exhaustion. Oxygenated (Δ[O₂Hb]), deoxygenated (Δ[HHb]) and total (Δ[tHb]) haemoglobin in cerebral, intercostal and vastus lateralis muscles were monitored with near‐infrared spectroscopy throughout the CPTs. Results: Performance time did not vary between trials. However, the vastus lateralis and intercostal Δ[O₂Hb] and Δ[tHb] were lower in CPT_COA than in CPT. During the CPT_COB, the intercostal Δ[O₂Hb] and Δ[tHb] were higher than in the CPT_COA. There were no differences in cerebral oxygenation between the trials. Conclusion: Inspiration of 18.9 ppm CO decreases oxygenation in the vastus lateralis and serratus anterior muscles, but does not affect performance. Breathing normobaric O₂ moderates the CO‐induced reductions in muscle oxygenation, mainly in the intercostals, but does not affect endurance.     

Near-infrared monitoring of tissue oxygenation during application of lower body pressure at rest and during dynamical exercise in humans

During the application of a wide range of graded lower body pressures (LBP) (–50 to 50 mmHg), we examined how (1) the tissue oxygenation in the lower and upper parts of the body changes at rest, and (2) how tissue oxygenation changes in the lower extremities during dynamical leg exercise. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the changes induced by LBP in total Hb content and Hb oxygenation in seven subjects. At rest, total Hb increased and Hb oxygenation decreased in the thigh muscles during –25 and –50 mmHg LBP, while both decreased during +25 and +50 mmHg LBP. However, in the forearm muscles during graded LBP, the pattern of change in total Hb was the reverse of that in the thigh. Measurements from the forehead showed changes only during +50 mmHg LBP. These results demonstrated that the pattern of change in total Hb and Hb oxygenation differed between upper and lower parts with graded LBP at rest. During dynamical leg exercise, total Hb and Hb oxygenation in the thigh muscles decreased during stepwise increases in LBP above –25 mmHg, Hb oxygenation decreasing markedly during +50 mmHg LBP. These results suggest that during dynamical exercise (i) LBP at +25 mmHg or more causes a graded decline in blood volume and/or flow in the thigh muscles, and (ii) especially at +50 mmHg LBP, the O₂ content may decrease markedly in active muscles. Our results suggest that NIRS can be used to monitor in a non-invasive and continuous fashion the changes in oxygenation occurring in human skeletal muscles and head during the graded changes in blood flow and/or volume caused by changes in external pressure and secondary reflexes both at rest and during dynamical exercise.     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy determined brain and muscle oxygenation during exercise with normal and resistive breathing

To elevate effects of carbon dioxide (CO₂) retention by way of an increased respiratory load during submaximal exercise (150 W), the concentration changes of oxy‐ (ΔHbO₂) and deoxy‐haemoglobin (ΔHb) of active muscles and the brain were determined by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in eight healthy males. During exercise, pulmonary ventilation increased to 33 (28–40) L min^–1 (median with range) with no effect of a moderate breathing resistance (reduction of the pneumotach diameter from 30 to 14 and 10 mm). The end‐tidal CO₂ pressure (P_ETCO ₂) increased from 45 (42–48) to 48 (46–58) mmHg with a reduction of only 1% in the arterial haemoglobin O₂ saturation (S_aO ₂). During control exercise (normal breathing resistance), muscle and brain ΔHbO₂ were not different from the resting levels, and only the leg muscle ΔHb increased (4 (–2–10) μM , P < 0.05). Moderate resistive breathing increased ΔHbO₂ of the intercostal and vastus lateralis muscles to 6 ± (–5–14) and 1 (–7–9) μM (P < 0.05), respectively, while muscle ΔHb was not affected. Cerebral ΔHbO₂ and ΔHb became elevated to 6 (1–15) and 1 (–1–6) μM by resistive breathing (P < 0.05). Resistive breathing caused an increased concentration of oxygenated haemoglobin in active muscles and in the brain. The results indicate that CO₂ influences blood flow to active skeletal muscle although its effect appears to be smaller than for the brain.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy provides an index of blood flow and vasoconstriction in calf skeletal muscle during lower body negative pressure

Aim: Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used previously for forearm blood flow estimation at rest and during exercise. In this study we applied NIRS to selectively monitor deep calf oxygenated haemoglobin (Hb) responses in order to estimate blood flow changes in the calf muscle during lower body negative pressure (LBNP). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that changes in calf skeletal muscle oxygenated‐Hb, after the removal of superficial tissue responses, were related to blood flow changes during orthostatic stress, and to determine the efficacy of using NIRS measurements as an index of vasoconstriction. Methods: Twenty‐nine subjects participated in this study. All attempted a graded LBNP trial from baseline (0 mmHg) to ?60 mmHg LBNP in 10 mmHg steps at 5‐min intervals. Calf blood flow changes were estimated by oxygenated‐Hb responses in relation to changes in mercury strain gauge plethysmography and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Results: Calf selective deep oxygenated‐Hb decreased continuously from ?10 mmHg LBNP. Regression analysis showed that oxygenated‐Hb was significantly related to declines in plethysmography evaluations of blood flow [oxygenated‐Hb = (?1.57 ± 0.26) + (1.86 ± 0.49) plethysmography, r² = 0.87 ± 0.09]. Changes in MSNA (total activity) were also inversely related to oxygenated‐Hb (slope < 0, P = 0.037; r² = 0.52 ± 0.15). Conclusion: These results suggest that changes in selective deep calf oxygenated‐Hb can be utilized to estimate calf muscle blood flow changes that are most likely caused by vasoconstriction during graded LBNP.     

A novel noninvasive all optical technique to monitor physiology of an exercising muscle

An all optical technique based on near-infrared spectroscopy and mid-infrared imaging (MIRI) is applied as a noninvasive, in vivo tool to monitor the vascular status of skeletal muscle and the physiological changes that occur during exercise. A near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique, namely, steady state diffuse optical spectroscopy (SSDOS) along with MIRI is applied for monitoring the changes in the values of tissue oxygenation and thermometry of an exercising muscle. The NIRS measurements are performed at five discrete wavelengths in a spectral window of 650-850 nm and MIRI is performed in a spectral window of 8-12 microm. The understanding of tissue oxygenation status and the behavior of the physiological parameters derived from thermometry may provide a useful insight into muscle physiology, therapeutic response and treatment.     

Skeletal muscle StO<Subscript>2</Subscript> kinetics are slowed during low work rate calf exercise in peripheral arterial disease

The time course of muscle oxygen desaturation (StO₂ kinetics) following exercise onset reflects the dynamic interaction between muscle blood flow and muscle oxygen consumption. In patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), muscle StO₂ kinetics are slowed during walking exercise; potentially reflecting altered muscle oxygen consumption relative to blood flow. This study evaluated whether StO₂ kinetics measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) would be slowed in PAD during low work rate calf exercise compared with healthy subjects under conditions in which blood flow did not differ. Eight subjects with PAD and eight controls performed 3 min of calf exercise at 5, 10, 30, and 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Calf blood flow responses were measured by plethysmography. Power outputs were similar between groups for all work rates. In PAD, the time constants of StO₂ kinetics were significantly slower than controls during 5% MVC (13.5 ± 1.7 vs. 6.9 ± 1.2 s, P < 0.05) and 10% MVC work rates (14.5 ± 2.7 vs. 6.8 ± 1.1 s, P < 0.05). Blood flow assessed when exercise was interrupted after 30 s did not differ between PAD and control subjects at these work rates. In contrast, the StO₂ time constants were not different between groups during 30 and 50% MVC work rates, where blood flow responses in PAD subjects were lower as compared with controls. Thus in PAD, the slowed StO₂ kinetic responses under conditions of unimpaired calf blood flow reflect slowed muscle oxygen consumption in PAD skeletal muscle during low work rate plantar flexion exercise as compared with healthy skeletal muscle.     

Do the kinetics of peripheral muscle oxygenation reflect systemic oxygen intake?

To examine whether the kinetics of local muscle oxygenation reflect systemic oxygen intake, we measured the kinetics of local muscle oxygenation and systemic oxygen consumption (V˙O ₂). This study included 16 healthy males who performed an exercise tolerance test on a bicycle ergometer. During the exercise test, expiratory gas analysis was performed with an expiratory gas analyzer, and the kinetics of vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHb) and tissue blood oxygen saturation (S _tO₂) gradually decreased during the exercise test, while deoxygenated hemoglobin (DeoxyHb) gradually increased. We examined correlations between the mean values of these parameters, which were calculated by time-integrating the values obtained using NIRS and dividing them by the integral time, and V˙O ₂. There was a marked positive correlation between DeoxyHb and V˙O ₂ (r=0.893 − 0.986), and a marked negative correlation between S _tO₂ and V˙O ₂ (r=0.859 − 0.995). There was a negative correlation between V˙O ₂ and OxyHb (r=0.726 − 0.978), and no correlation between TotalHb and V˙O ₂. These results suggest that the kinetics of peripheral muscle oxygenation reflect systemic V˙O ₂. Accepted: 23 October 2000     

Heterogeneous oxygenation in nonexercising triceps surae muscle during contralateral isometric exercise

To test whether changes in oxygenation of a resting skeletal muscle, evoked by a static contraction in a contralateral muscle, is uniform within a given skeletal muscle, we used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Seven subjects performed 2 min static knee extension exercise at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction. Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂) were monitored using multiple-channel NIRS (40 channels, 13 sources and 12 detectors) attached on the contralateral nonexercising triceps surae muscle. Changes in HbO₂ were expressed as a percentage of total labile signals. To characterize the distribution of changes in HbO₂, channels were compared between their positions on the triceps surae muscle, and represented as ‘proximal versus distal’ and ‘lateral versus medial’ portions. During static muscle contraction, the averaged changes in HbO₂ of all channels were correlated with those in calf blood flow (plethysmography; R ²=0.188, P<0.05) and with calf vascular conductance (R ²=0.146, P<0.05). HbO₂ did not differ significantly between the lateral and medial portions of the triceps surae muscle. In contrast, the decrease of HbO₂ in the proximal portion of the muscle was greater than that of the distal portion (P<0.05). These results indicate that the changes in oxygenation of a resting muscle, evoked by static contraction of the contralateral muscle, are heterogeneous.     

Tissue oxygenation by near-infrared spectroscopy and muscle blood flow during isometric contractions of the forearm.

The relationship between tissue oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and forearm muscle blood flow (FBF) measured by Doppler ultrasound was tested during isometric contractions at 10 and 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) under conditions of normoxia and hypoxia (14% inspired O2). Six subjects maintained contractions at 10% MVC for 5 min and 30% for 2 min in both gas conditions. FBF was elevated during exercise at 10% MVC in hypoxia compared to normoxia, but there was no further increase in flow at 30% MVC. Median power frequency calculations from electromyographic recordings suggested progressive development of fatigue throughout both 10 and 30% MVC contractions. NIRS indicated no change in muscle oxygenation at 10% MVC, but deep venous blood O2 saturation was reduced in normoxia and more so in hypoxia. At 30% MVC, both NIRS and venous O2 saturation were reduced, with no effect of hypoxia on the NIRS signal. While NIRS might provide an indication of muscle oxygenation during isometric exercise, the conflicting findings for NIRS and direct venous blood sampling at 10 vs 30% MVC suggest caution in the application of this noninvasive technique.     

Noninvasive optical quantification of absolute blood flow, blood oxygenation, and oxygen consumption rate in exercising skeletal muscle

This study investigates a method using novel hybrid diffuse optical spectroscopies [near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS)] to obtain continuous, noninvasive measurement of absolute blood flow (BF), blood oxygenation, and oxygen consumption rate (V?O(2)) in exercising skeletal muscle. Healthy subjects (n=9) performed a handgrip exercise to increase BF and V?O(2) in forearm flexor muscles, while a hybrid optical probe on the skin surface directly monitored oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentrations ([HbO(2)], [Hb], and THC), tissue oxygen saturation (S(t)O(2)), relative BF (rBF), and relative oxygen consumption rate (rV?O(2)). The rBF and rV?O(2) signals were calibrated with absolute baseline BF and V?O(2) obtained through venous and arterial occlusions, respectively. Known problems with muscle-fiber motion artifacts in optical measurements during exercise were mitigated using a novel gating algorithm that determined muscle contraction status based on control signals from a dynamometer. Results were consistent with previous findings in the literature. This study supports the application of NIRS/DCS technology to quantitatively evaluate hemodynamic and metabolic parameters in exercising skeletal muscle and holds promise for improving diagnosis and treatment evaluation for patients suffering from diseases affecting skeletal muscle and advancing fundamental understanding of muscle and exercise physiology.     

Calf and shin muscle oxygenation patterns and femoral artery blood flow during dynamic plantar flexion exercise in humans

The effects of dynamic plantar flexion exercise [40, 60, and 80 contractions·min^–1 (cpm)] on calf and shin muscle oxygenation patterns and common femoral artery blood flow ( ) were examined in six female subjects [mean age 21 (SD 1) years] who exercised for 1 min at 33% of their maximal voluntary contraction at ankle angles between 90° and 100°. Spatially resolved near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure medial gastrocnemius, lateral soleus (synergist) and anterior tibialis (antagonist) muscle oxygen saturation (SO₂, %). was measured by ultrasound Doppler. The SO₂ changed significantly only in the medial gastrocnemius and its decrease (up to about 30%) was independent of the contraction frequencies examined. The increase in , at the end of exercise, was highest at 80 cpm. When the exercise at 60 cpm was prolonged until exhaustion [mean 2.7 (SD 1.1) min], medial gastrocnemius SO₂ decreased, reaching its minimal value [mean 30 (SD 10)%] within the 1st min, and had partially recovered before the end of the exercise with concomitant increases in total haemoglobin content and . These results suggest that the medial gastrocnemius is the muscle mostly involved in dynamic plantar flexion exercise and its oxygen demand with increases in contraction frequency and duration is associated with an up-stream increase in . Electronic Publication     

Changes in muscle oxygenation during weight-lifting exercise

The quantitative analysis of haemoglobin oxygenation of contracting human muscle during weight-lifting exercise was studied noninvasively and directly using near-infrared spectroscopy. This method was developed as a three-wavelength method which confirmed the volume changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (oxy-Hb), deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) and blood volume (total-Hb; Oxy-Hb + deoxy-Hb). Nine healthy adult men with various levels of training experience took part in the study. Ten repetition maximum (10 RM) one-arm curl exercise was performed by all the subjects. Results showed that at the beginning of the 10-RM exercise, rapid increases of deoxy-Hb and decreases of oxy-Hb were observed. In addition, total-Hb gradually increased during exercise. These results corresponded to the condition of arm blood flow experimentally restricted using a tourniquet in contact with the shoulder joint, and they showed the restriction of venous blood flow and an anoxic state occurring in the dynamically contracted muscle. In three sets of lifting exercise with short rest periods, these tendencies were accelerated in each set, while total-Hb volume did not return to the resting state after the third set for more than 90 s. These results would suggest that a training regimen emphasizing a moderately high load and a high number of repetitions, and a serial set with short rest periods such as usually performed by bodybuilders, caused a relatively long-term anoxic state in the muscle.     

Estimated contribution of hemoglobin and myoglobin to near infrared spectroscopy

We calculated the light absorbing potential (LAP) of hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) in mammalian skeletal muscle at rest based on analysis of published chemical and morphometric data (Part 1), interpreted changes in total[Hb + Mb] from NIRS during exercise (Part 2), and estimated the potential contribution of Hb and Mb to changes in NIRS from rest to exercise (Part 3). Part 1: [Hb] in skeletal muscle was estimated from microvascular volume, systemic blood [Hb], and microvascular hematocrit and saturation at rest and during exercise. Part 2: Changes in total[Hb + Mb] (as t[Hb + Mb]) during cycling or knee extension exercise were interpreted using the results of Part 1. Part 3: Using estimates of mean microvascular PO₂, Hb and Mb contribution at peak exercise was estimated. Across several species, [Mb] contributed ∼50–70% of the total LAP to NIRS at rest in skeletal muscle. With exercise, increases in t[Hb + Mb] of up to 30% could be entirely explained by the predicted increase in microvascular hematocrit with exercise. Finally, Mb was estimated to contribute ∼70% of the changes in NIRS from rest to peak exercise.     

Muscle oxygenation trends during dynamic exercise measured by near infrared spectroscopy.

During the last decade, NIRS has been used extensively to evaluate the changes in muscle oxygenation and blood volume during a variety of exercise modes. The important findings from this research are as follows: (a) There is a strong correlation between the lactate (ventilatory) threshold during incremental cycle exercise and the exaggerated reduction in muscle oxygenation measured by NIRS. (b) The delay in steady-state oxygen uptake during constant work rate exercise at intensities above the lactate/ventilatory threshold is closely related to changes in muscle oxygenation measured by NIRS. (c) The degree of muscle deoxygenation at the same absolute oxygen uptake is significantly lower in older persons compared younger persons; however, these changes are negated when muscle oxygenation is expressed relative to maximal oxygen uptake values. (d) There is no significant difference between the rate of biceps brachii and vastus lateralis deoxygenation during arm cranking and leg cycling exercise, respectively, in males and females. (e) Muscle deoxygenation trends recorded during short duration, high-intensity exercise such as the Wingate test indicate that there is a substantial degree of aerobic metabolism during such exercise. Recent studies that have used NIRS at multiple sites, such as brain and muscle tissue, provide useful information pertaining to the regional changes in oxygen availability in these tissues during dynamic exercise.     

Molecular stressors underlying exercise training‐induced improvements in K+ regulation during exercise and Na+,K+‐ATPase adaptation in human skeletal muscle

Despite substantial progress made towards a better understanding of the importance of skeletal muscle K⁺ regulation for human physical function and its association with several disease states (eg type‐II diabetes and hypertension), the molecular basis underpinning adaptations in K⁺ regulation to various stimuli, including exercise training, remains inadequately explored in humans. In this review, the molecular mechanisms essential for enhancing skeletal muscle K⁺ regulation and its key determinants, including Na⁺,K⁺‐ATPase function and expression, by exercise training are examined. Special attention is paid to the following molecular stressors and signaling proteins: oxygenation, redox balance, hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant function, Na⁺,K⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations, anaerobic ATP turnover, AMPK, lactate, and mRNA expression. On this basis, an update on the effects of different types of exercise training on K⁺ regulation in humans is provided, focusing on recent discoveries about the muscle fibre‐type‐dependent regulation of Na⁺,K⁺‐ATPase‐isoform expression. Furthermore, with special emphasis on blood‐flow‐restricted exercise as an exemplary model to modulate the key molecular mechanisms identified, it is discussed how training interventions may be designed to maximize improvements in K⁺ regulation in humans. The novel insights gained from this review may help us to better understand how exercise training and other strategies, such as pharmacological interventions, may be best designed to enhance K⁺ regulation and thus the physical function in humans.     

Measuring perfusion and bioenergetics simultaneously in mouse skeletal muscle: a multiparametric functional‐NMR approach

A totally noninvasive set‐up was developed for comprehensive NMR evaluation of mouse skeletal muscle function in vivo. Dynamic pulsed arterial spin labeling‐NMRI perfusion and blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) signal measurements were interleaved with ³¹P NMRS to measure both vascular response and oxidative capacities during stimulated exercise and subsequent recovery. Force output was recorded with a dedicated ergometer. Twelve exercise bouts were performed. The perfusion, BOLD signal, pH and force–time integral were obtained from mouse legs for each exercise. All reached a steady state after the second exercise, justifying the pointwise summation of the last 10 exercises to compensate for the limited ³¹P signal. In this way, a high temporal resolution of 2.5 s was achieved to provide a time constant for phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery (τ_PCr). The higher signal‐to‐noise ratio improved the precision of τ_PCr measurement [coefficient of variation (CV) = 16.5% vs CV = 49.2% for a single exercise at a resolution of 30 s]. Inter‐animal summation confirmed that τ_PCr was stable at steady state, but shorter (89.3 ± 8.6 s) than after the first exercise (148 s, p < 0.05). This novel experimental approach provides an assessment of muscle vascular response simultaneously to energetic function in vivo. Its pertinence was illustrated by observing the establishment of a metabolic steady state. This comprehensive tool offers new perspectives for the study of muscle pathology in mice models. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of prior exercise on muscle [phosphorylcreatine] and deoxygenation kinetics during high-intensity exercise in men

(31)Phosphate-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were used for the simultaneous assessment of changes in quadriceps muscle metabolism and oxygenation during consecutive bouts of high-intensity exercise. Six male subjects completed two 6 min bouts of single-legged knee-extension exercise at 80% of the peak work rate separated by 6 min of rest while positioned inside the bore of a 1.5 T superconducting magnet. The total haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin concentrations in the area of the quadriceps muscle interrogated with NIRS were significantly higher in the baseline period prior to the second compared with the first exercise bout, consistent with an enhanced muscle oxygenation. Intramuscular phosphorylcreatine concentration ([PCr]) dynamics were not different over the fundamental region of the response (time constant for bout 1, 51 +/- 15 s versus bout 2, 52 +/- 17 s). However, the [PCr] dynamics over the entire response were faster in the second bout (mean response time for bout 1, 72 +/- 16 s versus bout 2, 57 +/- 8 s; P < 0.05), as a consequence of a greater fall in [PCr] in the fundamental phase and a reduction in the magnitude of the 'slow component' in [PCr] beyond 3 min of exercise (bout 1, 10 +/- 6% versus bout 2, 5 +/- 3%; P < 0.05). These data suggest that the increased muscle O(2) availability afforded by the performance of a prior bout of high-intensity exercise does not significantly alter the kinetics of [PCr] hydrolysis at the onset of a subsequent bout of high-intensity exercise. The greater fall in [PCr] over the fundamental phase of the response following prior high-intensity exercise indicates that residual fatigue acutely reduces muscle efficiency.