Changes in isometric force- and relaxation-time,electromyographic and muscle fibre characteristics of human skeletal muscle during strength training and detraining

HÄKKINEN, K., ALÉN, M. & KOMI, P.V. 1985. Changes in isometric force- and relaxation-time, electromyographic and muscle fibre characteristics of human skeletal muscle during strength training and detraining. Acta Physiol Scand 125, 573–585. Received 26 January 1985, accepted 9 May 1985. ISSN 0001–6772. Department of Biology of Physical Activity and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. Eleven male subjects (20–32 years) accustomed to strength training went through progressive, high-load strength training for 24 weeks with intensities ranging variably between 70 and 120% during each month. This training was also followed by a 12-week detraining period. An increase of 26.8% (P < 0.001) in maximal isometric strength took place during the training. The increase in strength correlated (P < 0.05) with significant (P < 0.05–0.01) increases in the neural activation (IEMG) of the leg extensor muscles during the most intensive training months. During the lower-intensity training, maximum IEMG decreased (P < 0.05). Enlargements of muscle-fibre areas, especially of fast-twitch type (P < 0.001), took place during the first 12 weeks of training. No hypertrophic changes were noted during the latter half of training. After initial improvements (P < 0.05) no changes or even slight worsening were noted in selected force-time parameters during later strength training. During detraining a great (P < 0.01) decrease in maximal strength was correlated (P < 0.05) with the decrease (P < 0.05) in the maximum IEMGs of the leg extensors. This period resulted also in decreases (P < 0.05) of the mean muscle-fibre areas of both fibre types. It was concluded that improvement in strength may be accounted for by neural factors during the course of very intensive strength training. Selective training-induced hypertrophy also contributed to strength development but muscle hypertrophy may have some limitations during long-lasting strength training, especially in highly trained subjects.     

Interstitial microfibrils in the myocardium of patients with rheumatic and congenital cardiac defects

Electron-microscopic investigation of biopsy specimens of heart tissue from patients with rheumatic and congenital cardiac defects revealed aperiodic microfibrils, the number of which was proportional to the fibrosis of the myocardium, on the basal membranes of the capillaries and muscle fibers and also in the lumen of the T-tubules and their vacuolar expansions. If signs of rheumatic carditis are present the myofibrils are less regular and their number somewhat greater. Microfibrils are rutheniophilic and argyrophilic and consist of elementary fibrils of reticular fibers. Their hyperplasia is the ultrastructural equivalent of the reticular skeleton of the hypertrophied myocardium in patients with cardiac defects.Institute of Rheumatism, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. I. Strukov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 1011–1014, August, 1976.     

Cardiovascular ‘reactivity’ to graded splanchnic nerve stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive control rats

Cardiovascular ‘reactivity’ to graded splanchnic nerve stimulations was compared in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls (NCR), during abolished adrenal medullary secretion and neurogenic cardiac control and depressed reflex vascular adjustments. Arterial pressure, heart rate and cardiac output were measured, and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and stroke volume (SV) computed before, during and after nerve stimulation. The neurogenic resistance increases in the major gastrointestinal-renal-hepatic circuits expressed themselves as TPR elevations, which were much accentuated in SHR. This reflects an increased w/r₁ of SHR resistance vessels rather than any altered effector sensitivity, since the responses were particularly accentuated at high discharge rates when noradrenaline junction concentrations approach maximal levels. The splanchnic capacitance responses expressed themselves as SV increases, being the most relevant aspect of capacitance control. SV increased less in SHR, mainly reflecting the reduced diastolic compliance of the hypertrophied SHR left ventricle and the consequent rightward shift of its Frank-Starling curve. The results indicate that an elevated resistance may well be maintained by a normal sympathetic discharge in established SHR hypertension. There seems, however, to be an increasing need for accentuated discharge to the capacitance side to maintain proper cardiac filling of the hypertrophied left ventricle.     

伊贝沙坦对血管紧张素Ⅱ所致心肌细胞蛋白质合成和肌球蛋白重链表达的影响

目的 观察伊贝沙坦对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）所致心肌细胞中蛋白质合成速率及肌球蛋白重链（MHC）基因表达改变的影响.方法 以AngⅡ及伊贝沙坦分别或同时作用于培养的细胞.采用放射性同位素[^3H]-leu掺入法检测培养心肌细胞蛋白质合成速率.应用荧光定量PCR方法检测心肌细胞心房利钠肽因子（ANF）以及α-MHC、β-MHC的表达.结果 AngⅡ处理使心肌细胞中[^3H]-Leu掺人增加（P＜0.05）,同时ANF mRNA的表达明显高于正常（P＜0.05）;α-MHC mRNA的表达显著低于正常（P＜0.05）,而β-MHC mRNA的表达显著高于正常（P＜0.05）,α-MHC/β-MHC的比值下降（P＜0.05）.当伊贝沙坦与AngⅡ共同作用于培养的心肌细胞时,与AngⅡ组比较,[^3H]-Leu的掺入明显下降（P＜0.05）,与正常组比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;同时ANF的表达下降,与正常组比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;心肌细胞中α-MHC的表达明显增高（P＜0.05）,而β-MHCmRNA的表达显著降低（P＜0.05）,α-MHC/β-MHC的比值上升（P＜0.05）.结论 伊贝沙坦能抑制AngⅡ所致的心肌细胞肥大和细胞中α-MHC向β-MHC表达的转换.     

Glomerular Hypertrophy in Offspring of Subtotally Nephrectomized Ewes

We have shown that fetuses whose mothers underwent subtotal nephrectomy (STNx) before pregnancy had high urine flow rates and sodium excretions, but lower hematocrits, plasma chloride, and plasma renin levels compared with controls. To see if these functional differences in utero persist after birth and are the result of altered renal development, we studied 8 lambs born to STNx mothers (STNxL) and 10 controls (ConL) in the second week of life. These lambs were of similar body weights, nose–rump lengths and abdominal girths. Their kidney weights were not different (ConL 36.1 ± 1.9 vs. STNxL 39.8 ± 3.3 g), nor were kidney dimensions or glomerular number (ConL 423,520 ± 22,194 vs. STNxL 429,530 ± 27,471 glomeruli). However, STNxL had 30% larger glomerular volumes (both mean and total, P < 0.01) and there was a positive relationship between total glomerular volume and urinary protein excretion (P < 0.05) in STNxL. Despite this change in glomerular morphology, glomerular filtration rate, tubular function, urine flow, and sodium excretion rates were not different between STNxL and ConL, nor were plasma electrolytes, osmolality, and plasma renin levels. Thus while many of the functional differences seen in late gestation were not present at 1–2 weeks after birth, the alteration in glomerular size and its relationship to protein excretion suggests that exposure to this altered intrauterine environment may predispose offspring of mothers with renal dysfunction to renal disease in adult life. Anat Rec, 291:318–324, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Neuromuscular adaptation during prolonged strength training, detraining and re-strength-training in middle-aged and elderly people

Effects of a 24-week strength training performed twice weekly (24 ST) (combined with explosive exercises) followed by either a 3-week detraining (3 DT) and a 21-week re-strength-training (21 RST) (experiment A) or by a 24-week detraining (24 DT) (experiment B) on neural activation of the agonist and antagonist leg extensors, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris, maximal isometric and one repetition maximum (1-RM) strength and jumping (J) and walking (W) performances were examined. A group of middle-aged (M, 37–44 years, n=12) and elderly (E, 62–77, n=10) and another group of M (35–45, n=7) and E (63–78, n=7) served as subjects. In experiment A, the 1-RM increased substantially during 24 ST in M (27%, P < 0.001) and E (29%, P < 0.001) and in experiment B in M (29%, P < 0.001) and E (23%, P < 0.01). During 21 RST the 1-RM was increased by 5% at week 48 (P < 0.01) in M and 3% at week 41 in E (n.s., but P < 0.05 at week 34). In experiment A the integrated electromyogram (IEMG) of the vastus muscles in the 1-RM increased during 24 ST in both M (P < 0.05) and E (P < 0.001) and during 21 RST in M for the right (P < 0.05) and in E for both legs (P < 0.05). The biceps femoris co-activation during the 1-RM leg extension decreased during the first 8-week training in M (from 29 ± 5% to 25 ± 3%, n.s.) and especially in E (from 41 ± 11% to 32 ± 9%, P < 0.05). The CSA increased by 7% in M (P < 0.05) and by 7% in E (P < 0.001), and by 7% (n.s.) in M and by 3% in E (n.s.) during 24 ST periods. Increases of 18% (P < 0.001) and 12% (P < 0.05) in M and 22% (P < 0.001) and 26% (P < 0.05) in E occurred in J. W speed increased (P < 0.05) in both age groups. The only decrease during 3 DT was in maximal isometric force in M by 6% (P < 0.05) and by 4% (n.s.) in E. During 24 DT the CSA decreased in both age groups (P < 0.01), the 1-RM decreased by 6% (P < 0.05) in M and by 4% (P < 0.05) in E and isometric force by 12% (P < 0.001) in M and by 9% (P < 0.05) in E, respectively, while J and W remained unaltered. The strength gains were accompanied by increased maximal voluntary neural activation of the agonists in both age groups with reduced antagonist co-activation in the elderly during the initial training phases. Neural adaptation seemed to play a greater role than muscle hypertrophy. Short-term detraining led to only minor changes, while prolonged detraining resulted in muscle atrophy and decreased voluntary strength, but explosive jumping and walking actions in both age groups appeared to remain elevated for quite a long time by compensatory types of physical activities when performed on a regular basis. Accepted: 2 May 2000     

Recovery of hypertrophied rat hearts after global ischemia and reperfusion at different perfusion pressures

The ability to resist transient ischemia was studied in isolated hearts of 18 months old spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Both types of hearts showed optimal performance during the preischemic period when perfused at a diastolic perfusion pressure of 8.0 (WKY) and 13.3 (SHR) kPa. Hemodynamic recovery of WKY hearts during reperfusion at 8.0 kPa, following 45 min global ischemia, was satisfactory. Coronary perfusion completely normalized, contractility (dP _lv/dt _max) was slightly depressed and cardiac output returned, on the average, to 40% of the preischemic values. In contrast, hemodynamic function of SHR hearts reperfused at 13.3 kPa was greatly depressed, as evidenced by almost complete abolition of cardiac output, severe reduction ofdP _lv/dt _max and persistent underperfusion of the endocardial layers. In addition, the postischemic release of lactate dehydrogenase was retarded and enhanced. The release patterns of degradation products of adenine nucleotides showed a shift to the endstage produets xanthine and uric acid. The enhanced vulnerability of the hypertrophied heart to ischemia was even more expressed when the SHR hearts were reperfused at 8.0 kPa. Postischemic function was characterized by electrical instability, loss of contractility and cardiac output, and noreflow in the endocardial layers. Persistent accumulation of lactate and degradation products of adenine nucleotides in the postischemic hearts are in line with the lack of reperfusion. The present results indicate that a detailed mechanistic explanation for the reduced ability to withstand ischemia of SHR cannot be based on differences in ATP content or an altered anaerobic glycolitic activity prior and during ischemia. It is suggested that a defect on the circulatory level, probably caused by enhanced reactivity of the coronary vessels towards ischemia-elicited factors, is responsible for the higher vulnerability of hypertrophied heart to an ischemia insult.Supported by Medigon/NWO (grant number 900516091)     

Effects of resistance exercise combined with vascular occlusion on muscle function in athletes

The effects of resistance exercise combined with vascular occlusion on muscle function were investigated in highly trained athletes. Elite rugby players (n=17) took part in an 8 week study of exercise training of the knee extensor muscles, in which low-intensity [about 50% of one repetition maximum] exercise combined with an occlusion pressure of about 200 mmHg (LIO, n=6), low-intensity exercise without the occlusion (LI, n=6), and no exercise training (untrained control, n=5) were included. The exercise in the LI group was of the same intensity and amount as in the LIO group. The LIO group showed a significantly larger increase in isokinetic knee extension torque than that in the other two groups (P<0.05) at all the velocities studied. On the other hand, no significant difference was seen between LI and the control group. In the LIO group, the cross-sectional area of knee extensors increased significantly (P<0.01), suggesting that the increase in knee extension strength was mainly caused by muscle hypertrophy. The dynamic endurance of knee extensors estimated from the decreases in mechanical work production and peak force after 50 repeated concentric contractions was also improved after LIO, whereas no significant change was observed in the LI and control groups. The results indicated that low-intensity resistance exercise causes, in almost fully trained athletes, increases in muscle size, strength and endurance, when combined with vascular occlusion. Electronic Publication     

Early biochemical and morphological changes of the rat adrenal medulla induced by xylitol

Long-term administration of high doses of xylitol and other polyols in rats has been associated with an increase in adrenal medullary hyperplasia and neoplasia. In order to exclude age-related factors and to differentiate between unspecific stress reactions and direct effects of the compound administered, a model was developed for quantifying early adrenomedullary responses. Male SD rats were fed xylitol (10% or 20% in the diet) for 2 and 8 weeks, and early biochemical changes were correlated with a stereological analysis of the adrenal medulla. At first, the in vivo rate of catecholamine (CA) biosynthesis was slightly decreased (at 2 weeks). This was followed by an increase in dopamine--hydroxylase (DBH) activity (at 8 weeks). By that time, the total chromaffin cell volume had increased and the number of chromaffin cells per reference volume had decreased in a dose-dependent way. The total number of chromaffin cells per adrenal gland showed a distinct tendency towards an increase. Adrenal epinephrine and norepinephrine contents were not altered, and both tyrosine hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase activities remained unchanged. These data suggest that continued xylitol administration evoked an inhibitory effect on CA synthesis that, together with stimulation of the adrenal medulla brought about by the compound, resulted in compensatory medullary hypertrophy and hyperplasia.     

腺样体肥大患儿血清炎症介质和淋巴细胞亚群表达特征及与患儿预后的相关性

目的研究腺样体肥大患儿血清炎症介质、淋巴细胞亚群表达特征及其与患儿预后的相关性。方法选取浙江中医药大学附属第三医院收治的86例腺样体肥大患儿(观察组)和86例健康儿童(对照组)作为研究对象,采集血液标本测定血清炎症介质及淋巴细胞亚群相关指标,对比两组儿童的测定结果。分析腺样体肥大患儿的肥大程度、腺样体再增生情况,对比不同肥大程度患儿的血清指标,并分析各指标与患儿病情程度及预后(腺样体再增生)的关系。结果观察组患儿肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、可溶性白细胞介素-2受体(sIL-2R)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平分别为(492.44±50.56)mg/L、(420.48±61.79)U/ml及(33.65±4.51)pg/ml,对照组儿童分别为(301.22±41.65)mg/L、(236.55±57.90)U/ml及(16.25±3.27)pg/ml,差异均有统计学意义(t=16.004,P<0.05;t=20.311,P<0.05;t=8.995,P<0.05)。观察组CD4⁺、CD8⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平分别为(35.75±7.05)、(16.22±2.69)及(1.46±0.67),对照组分别为(34.25±4.53)、(17.62±2.35)及(1.40±0.62),差异均无统计学意义(t=1.036,P>0.05;t=0.905,P>0.05;t=0.823,P>0.05)。相比腺样体中度肥大患儿,重度肥大患儿的TNF-α、sIL-2R、IL-6、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平明显更高(P<0.05)。相比未增生患儿,腺样体再增生患儿的TNF-α、sIL-2R、IL-6、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平明显更高(P<0.05)。相关分析显示,患儿腺样体肥大程度与TNF-α、sIL-2R、IL-6、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平均呈正相关(P<0.05)。患儿腺体再增生与TNF-α、sIL-2R、IL-6、CD4⁺及CD4⁺/CD8⁺水平也呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论腺样体肥大患儿的血清炎症介质及部分T淋巴细胞亚群表达显著升高,其与腺样体肥大程度、患儿预后密切相关。