Fuel Selection in Genetically Selected Endurance Running Rats at Submaximal Exercise Intensities

Abstract

<p> Exercise intensity is one of the major factors determining the utilization of carbohydrates (CHO) and lipids in mammalian skeletal muscle. Using indirect calorimetry, we determined maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and whole-body rates of CHO and lipid oxidation in rats selectively bred for high and low running capacity (HCR's and LCR's) during exercise at 50, 60, 70 and 80%VO2max. Previous studies have revealed a pattern of selection where mammals with different aerobic capacities use the same proportions of lipids and CHO when exercising at the same relative exercise intensity and as intensity increases, CHO use increases and lipid use decreases. The present results showed that the HCR's had a VO2max and distance run to exhaustion that was 1.3 and 4.0 times greater than the LCR's respectively. Also, both groups of rats followed the pattern of fuel selection seen in previous studies where the same proportions (in%) of lipids and CHO are used at the same relative exercise intensity. On an absolute scale, the HCR's used more lipids and CHO than the LCR's at all exercise intensities but the results were not always statistically significant. We also determined the exercise intensity that elicited the greatest lipid use to be 60% VO2max in both groups.</p> <p> In order to explain these patterns of fuel selection, metabolic indicators, metabolites and enzymes, in skeletal muscle were measured at rest and post exercise for one hour at 60%VO2max. Specifically, ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) metabolite concentrations were determined in the medial and lateral gastrocnemius, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), tibialis anterior (TA), and soleus muscle. The medial gastrocnemius and soleus were analyzed (pre and post exercise samples were combined) for their oxidative and glycolytic enzyme activity by measuring citrate synthase (CS), cytochrome oxidase (COX), β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) . PCr and ATP concentrations did not change pre and post exercise and between the HCR's and LCR's except for the EDL where there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in both metabolites after exercise in both groups of rats. For the enzyme measurements, CS and COX activities were higher (P<0.05) in the HCR's for the soleus and HOAD activities were also higher in the HCR's medial gastrocnemius compared to the LCR's. We concluded that the HCR's have a greater oxidative capacity as shown by their greater aerobic and endurance capacity (VO2max and distance to exhaustion), their ability to oxidize a greater absolute amount of lipids and CHO's at the same relative exercise intensity, and their higher activities of oxidative enzymes in the soleus (CS and COX) and medial gastrocnemius (HOAD). Future research into the mechanisms involved in explaining these patterns of fuel selection may include examining fatty acid transport proteins, fatty acid and CHO availability, fiber types, and catecholamines.</p>