Richard A. Howlett

Loss of Skeletal Muscle HIF-1α Results in Altered Exercise Endurance

The physiological flux of oxygen is extreme in exercising skeletal muscle. Hypoxia is thus a critical parameter in muscle function, influencing production of ATP, utilization of energy-producing substrates, and manufacture of exhaustion-inducing metabolites. Glycolysis is the central source of anaerobic energy in animals, and this metabolic pathway is regulated under low-oxygen conditions by the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). To determine the role of HIF-1α in regulating skeletal muscle function, we tissue-specifically deleted the gene encoding the factor in skeletal muscle. Significant exercise-induced changes in expression of genes are decreased or absent in the skeletal-muscle HIF-1α knockout mice (HIF-1α KOs); changes in activities of glycolytic enzymes are seen as well. There is an increase in activity of rate-limiting enzymes of the mitochondria in the muscles of HIF-1α KOs, indicating that the citric acid cycle and increased fatty acid oxidation may be compensating for decreased flow through the glycolytic pathway. This is corroborated by a finding of no significant decreases in muscle ATP, but significantly decreased amounts of lactate in the serum of exercising HIF-1α KOs. This metabolic shift away from glycolysis and toward oxidation has the consequence of increasing exercise times in the HIF-1α KOs. However, repeated exercise trials give rise to extensive muscle damage in HIF-1α KOs, ultimately resulting in greatly reduced exercise times relative to wild-type animals. The muscle damage seen is similar to that detected in humans in diseases caused by deficiencies in skeletal muscle glycogenolysis and glycolysis. Thus, these results demonstrate an important role for the HIF-1 pathway in the metabolic control of muscle function.

Regulation of skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase and PDH at varying exercise power outputs

This study investigated the transformational and posttransformational control of skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) at three exercise power outputs [35, 65, and 90% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max)]. Seven untrained subjects cycled at one power output for 10 min on three separate occasions, with muscle biopsies at rest and 1 and 10 min of exercise. Glycogen phosphorylase in the more active (a) form was not significantly different at any time across power outputs (21. 4-29.6%), with the exception of 90%, where it fell significantly to 15.3% at 10 min. PDH transformation increased significantly from rest (average 0.53 mmol . kg wet muscle-1 . min-1) to 1 min of exercise as a function of power output (1.60 +/- 0.26, 2.77 +/- 0.29, and 3.33 +/- 0.31 mmol . kg wet muscle-1 . min-1 at 35, 65, and 90%, respectively) with a further significant increase at 10 min (4.45 +/- 0.35) at 90% VO2 max. Muscle lactate, acetyl-CoA, acetylcarnitine, and free ADP, AMP, and Pi were unchanged from rest at 35% VO2 max but rose significantly at 65 and 90%, with accumulations at 90% being significantly higher than 65%. The results of this study indicate that glycogen phosphorylase transformation is independent of increasing power outputs, despite increasing glycogenolytic flux, suggesting that flux through glycogen phosphorylase is matched to the demand for energy by posttransformational factors, such as free Pi and AMP. Conversely, PDH transformation is directly related to the increasing power output and the calculated flux through the enzyme. The rise in PDH transformation is likely due to increased Ca2+ concentration and/or increased pyruvate. These results demonstrate that metabolic signals related to contraction and the energy state of the cell are sensitive to the exercise intensity and coordinate the increase in carbohydrate use with increasing power output.

Muscle-specific VEGF deficiency greatly reduces exercise endurance in mice

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is required for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during embryonic and early postnatal life. However the organ‐specific functional role of VEGF in adult life, particularly in skeletal muscle, is less clear. To explore this issue, we engineered skeletal muscle‐targeted VEGF deficient mice (mVEGF−/−) by crossbreeding mice that selectively express Cre recombinase in skeletal muscle under the control of the muscle creatine kinase promoter (MCKcre mice) with mice having a floxed VEGF gene (VEGFLoxP mice). We hypothesized that VEGF is necessary for regulating both cardiac and skeletal muscle capillarity, and that a reduced number of VEGF‐dependent muscle capillaries would limit aerobic exercise capacity. In adult mVEGF−/− mice, VEGF protein levels were reduced by 90 and 80% in skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) and cardiac muscle, respectively, compared to control mice (P < 0.01). This was accompanied by a 48% (P < 0.05) and 39% (P < 0.05) decreases in the capillary‐to‐fibre ratio and capillary density, respectively, in the gastrocnemius and a 61% decrease in cardiac muscle capillary density (P < 0.05). Hindlimb muscle oxidative (citrate synthase, 21%; β‐HAD, 32%) and glycolytic (PFK, 18%) regulatory enzymes were also increased in mVEGF−/− mice. However, this limited adaptation to reduced muscle VEGF was insufficient to maintain aerobic exercise capacity, and maximal running speed and endurance running capacity were reduced by 34% and 81%, respectively, in mVEGF−/− mice compared to control mice (P < 0.05). Moreover, basal and dobutamine‐stimulated cardiac function, measured by transthoracic echocardiography and left ventricular micromanomtery, showed only a minimal reduction of contractility (peak +dP/dt) and relaxation (peak –dP/dt, τE). Collectively these data suggests adequate locomotor muscle capillary number is important for achieving full exercise capacity. Furthermore, VEGF is essential in regulating postnatal muscle capillarity, and that adult mice, deficient in cardiac and skeletal muscle VEGF, exhibit a major intolerance to aerobic exercise.

An enzymatic approach to lactate production in human skeletal muscle during exercise.

PURPOSE This paper examines the production of lactate in human skeletal muscle over a range of power outputs (35-250% VO2max) from an enzymatic flux point of view. The conversion of pyruvate and NADH to lactate and NAD in the cytoplasm of muscle cells is catalyzed by the near-equilibrium enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). As flux through LDH is increased by its substrates, pyruvate and NADH, the factors governing the production of these substrates will largely dictate how much lactate is produced at any exercise power output. In an attempt to understand lactate production, flux rates through the enzymes that regulate glycogenolysis/glycolysis, the transfer of cytoplasmic reducing equivalents into the mitochondria, and the various fates of pyruvate have been measured or estimated. RESULTS At low power outputs, the rates of pyruvate and NADH production in the cytoplasm are low, and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and the shuttle system enzymes (SS) metabolize the majority of these substrates, resulting in little or no lactate production. At higher power outputs (65, 90, and 250% VO2max), the mismatch between the ATP demand and aerobic ATP provision at the onset of exercise increases as a function of intensity, resulting in increasing accumulations of the glycogenolytic/glycolytic activators (free ADP, AMP, and Pi). The resulting glycolytic flux, and NADH and pyruvate production, is progressively greater than can be handled by the SS and PDH, and lactate is produced at increasing rates. Lactate production during the onset of exercise and 10 min of sustained aerobic exercise may be a function of adjustments in the delivery of O2 to the muscles, adjustments in the activation of the aerobic ATP producing metabolic pathways and/or substantial glycogenolytic/glycolytic flux through a mass action effect.

Skeletal muscle malonyl-CoA content at the onset of exercise at varying power outputs in humans

To investigate the regulation of intramuscular fuel selection, we measured the malonyl-CoA (M-CoA) content in human skeletal muscle at three exercise power outputs [35, 65, and 90% maximal rate of O2 consumption (VO2 max)]. Four males and four females cycled for 10 min at one power output on three separate occasions with muscle biopsies sampled at rest and at 1 and 10 min. The respiratory exchange ratio was 0.84 +/- 0.03, 0.92 +/- 0.02, and >1.0 at 35, 65 and 90% VO2 max, respectively. Muscle lactate content increased and phosphocreatine content decreased as a function of power output. Pyruvate dehydrogenase a activity increased from 0.40-0.64 mmol . kg wet muscle-1 . min-1 at rest to 1.57 +/- 0.28, 2.80 +/- 0.41, and 3. 28 +/- 0.27 mmol . kg wet muscle-1 . min-1 after 1 min of cycling at the three power outputs, respectively. Mean resting M-CoA contents were similar at all power outputs (1.85-1.98 micromol/kg dry muscle). During exercise at 35% VO2 max, M-CoA decreased from rest at 1 min (1.85 +/- 0.29 to 1.20 +/- 0.12 micromol/kg dry muscle) but returned to rest level by 10 min (1.86 +/- 0.25 micromol/kg dry muscle). M-CoA content did not decrease during cycling at 65% VO2 max. At 90% VO2 max, M-CoA did not increase despite significant acetyl-CoA accumulation (the substrate for M-CoA synthesis). The data suggest that a decrease in M-CoA content is not required for the increase in free fatty acid uptake and oxidation that occurs during exercise at 35 and 65% VO2 max. Furthermore, M-CoA content does not increase during exercise at 90% VO2 max and does not contribute to the lower rate of fat oxidation at this power output.To investigate the regulation of intramuscular fuel selection, we measured the malonyl-CoA (M-CoA) content in human skeletal muscle at three exercise power outputs [35, 65, and 90% maximal rate of O2 consumption (V˙o 2 max)]. Four males and four females cycled for 10 min at one power output on three separate occasions with muscle biopsies sampled at rest and at 1 and 10 min. The respiratory exchange ratio was 0.84 ± 0.03, 0.92 ± 0.02, and >1.0 at 35, 65 and 90%V˙o 2 max, respectively. Muscle lactate content increased and phosphocreatine content decreased as a function of power output. Pyruvate dehydrogenase a activity increased from 0.40-0.64 mmol ⋅ kg wet muscle-1 ⋅ min-1at rest to 1.57 ± 0.28, 2.80 ± 0.41, and 3.28 ± 0.27 mmol ⋅ kg wet muscle-1 ⋅ min-1after 1 min of cycling at the three power outputs, respectively. Mean resting M-CoA contents were similar at all power outputs (1.85-1.98 μmol/kg dry muscle). During exercise at 35%V˙o 2 max, M-CoA decreased from rest at 1 min (1.85 ± 0.29 to 1.20 ± 0.12 μmol/kg dry muscle) but returned to rest level by 10 min (1.86 ± 0.25 μmol/kg dry muscle). M-CoA content did not decrease during cycling at 65%V˙o 2 max. At 90%V˙o 2 max, M-CoA did not increase despite significant acetyl-CoA accumulation (the substrate for M-CoA synthesis). The data suggest that a decrease in M-CoA content is not required for the increase in free fatty acid uptake and oxidation that occurs during exercise at 35 and 65%V˙o 2 max. Furthermore, M-CoA content does not increase during exercise at 90%V˙o 2 max and does not contribute to the lower rate of fat oxidation at this power output.

Effects of dichloroacetate infusion on human skeletal muscle metabolism at the onset of exercise

This study investigated whether dichloroacetate (DCA) decreases the reliance on substrate level phosphorylation during the transition from rest to moderate-intensity exercise in humans. Nine subjects cycled at approximately 65% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2 max)) after a saline or DCA (100 mg/kg body wt) infusion, with muscle biopsies taken at rest and at 30 s and 2 and 10 min of exercise. DCA infusion increased pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation at rest (4.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.1 mmol. kg wet wt(-1). min(-1)) and at 30 s (3.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.4 mmol. kg(-1). min(-1)) of exercise. As a result, acetyl-CoA (45.9 +/- 5.9 vs. 11.3 +/- 1.5 micromol/kg dry wt) and acetylcarnitine (13.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.3 mmol/kg dry wt) were markedly increased by DCA infusion at rest. These differences were maintained at 30 s and 2 min for both acetyl-CoA and acetylcarnitine. Resting muscle lactate and phosphocreatine (PCr) were not different between trials, but DCA infusion resulted in lower lactate accumulation throughout exercise, especially at 2 min (21.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 44.6 +/- 8.0 mmol/kg dry wt). PCr utilization in the initial 30 s (16.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 31.7 +/- 2.6 mmol/kg dry wt) and 2 min (27.8 +/- 4.7 vs. 45.1 +/- 2.6 mmol/kg dry wt) of exercise was decreased with DCA. This resulted in a lower accumulation of free inorganic phosphate at 30 s (25.4 +/- 2.0 vs. 36.4 +/- 2.8 mmol/kg dry wt) and 2 min (34.6 +/- 4.7 vs. 50.5 +/- 2.2 mmol/kg dry wt) with DCA and decreased glycogenolysis over 10 min. The data from this study support the hypothesis that increased provision of substrate by DCA infusion increases oxidative metabolism during the rest-to-work transition, resulting in decreased PCr utilization and an improved cellular energy state at the onset of exercise. The transitory improvement in energy state decreased glycogenolysis and lactate accumulation during moderate-intensity exercise.This study investigated whether dichloroacetate (DCA) decreases the reliance on substrate level phosphorylation during the transition from rest to moderate-intensity exercise in humans. Nine subjects cycled at ∼65% of maximal oxygen uptake (V˙o 2 max) after a saline or DCA (100 mg/kg body wt) infusion, with muscle biopsies taken at rest and at 30 s and 2 and 10 min of exercise. DCA infusion increased pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation at rest (4.0 ± 0.3 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1 mmol ⋅ kg wet wt-1 ⋅ min-1) and at 30 s (3.6 ± 0.2 vs. 2.5 ± 0.4 mmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) of exercise. As a result, acetyl-CoA (45.9 ± 5.9 vs. 11.3 ± 1.5 μmol/kg dry wt) and acetylcarnitine (13.1 ± 1.0 vs. 1.6 ± 0.3 mmol/kg dry wt) were markedly increased by DCA infusion at rest. These differences were maintained at 30 s and 2 min for both acetyl-CoA and acetylcarnitine. Resting muscle lactate and phosphocreatine (PCr) were not different between trials, but DCA infusion resulted in lower lactate accumulation throughout exercise, especially at 2 min (21.6 ± 3.1 vs. 44.6 ± 8.0 mmol/kg dry wt). PCr utilization in the initial 30 s (16.9 ± 0.4 vs. 31.7 ± 2.6 mmol/kg dry wt) and 2 min (27.8 ± 4.7 vs. 45.1 ± 2.6 mmol/kg dry wt) of exercise was decreased with DCA. This resulted in a lower accumulation of free inorganic phosphate at 30 s (25.4 ± 2.0 vs. 36.4 ± 2.8 mmol/kg dry wt) and 2 min (34.6 ± 4.7 vs. 50.5 ± 2.2 mmol/kg dry wt) with DCA and decreased glycogenolysis over 10 min. The data from this study support the hypothesis that increased provision of substrate by DCA infusion increases oxidative metabolism during the rest-to-work transition, resulting in decreased PCr utilization and an improved cellular energy state at the onset of exercise. The transitory improvement in energy state decreased glycogenolysis and lactate accumulation during moderate-intensity exercise.

Myocyte vascular endothelial growth factor is required for exercise-induced skeletal muscle angiogenesis

We have previously shown, using a Cre-LoxP strategy, that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is required for the development and maintenance of skeletal muscle capillarity in sedentary adult mice. To determine whether VEGF expression is required for skeletal muscle capillary adaptation to exercise training, gastrocnemius muscle capillarity was measured in myocyte-specific VEGF gene-deleted (mVEGF(-/-)) and wild-type (WT) littermate mice following 6 wk of treadmill running (1 h/day, 5 days/wk) at the same running speed. The effect of training on metabolic enzyme activity levels and whole body running performance was also evaluated in mVEGF(-/-) and WT mice. Posttraining capillary density was significantly increased by 59% (P < 0.05) in the deep muscle region of the gastrocnemius in WT mice but did not change in mVEGF(-/-) mice. Maximal running speed and time to exhaustion during submaximal running increased by 20 and 13% (P < 0.05), respectively, in WT mice after training but were unchanged in mVEGF(-/-) mice. Training led to increases in skeletal muscle citrate synthase (CS) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) activities in both WT and mVEGF(-/-) mice (P < 0.05), whereas β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (β-HAD) activity was increased only in WT mice. These data demonstrate that skeletal muscle capillary adaptation to physical training does not occur in the absence of myocyte-expressed VEGF. However, skeletal muscle metabolic adaptation to exercise training takes place independent of myocyte VEGF expression.

Human skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity increases after a low-carbohydrate diet

To characterize human skeletal muscle enzymatic adaptation to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-protein diet (LCD), subjects consumed a eucaloric diet consisting of 5% of the total energy intake from carbohydrate, 63% from fat, and 33% from protein for 6 days compared with their normal diet (52% carbohydrate, 33% fat, and 14% protein). Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis before and after 3 and 6 days on a LCD. Intact mitochondria were extracted from fresh muscle and analyzed for pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase, total PDH, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activities and mitochondrial ATP production rate (using carbohydrate and fat substrates). β-Hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase, active PDH (PDHa), and citrate synthase activities were also measured on whole muscle homogenates. PDH kinase (PDHK) was calculated as the absolute value of the apparent first-order rate constant of the inactivation of PDH in the presence of 0.3 mM Mg2+-ATP. PDHK increased dramatically from 0.10 ± 0.02 min-1 to 0.35 ± 0.09 min-1 at 3 days and 0.49 ± 0.06 min-1 after 6 days. Resting PDHa activity decreased from 0.63 ± 0.17 to 0.17 ± 0.04 mmol ⋅ min-1 ⋅ kg-1after 6 days on the diet, whereas total PDH activity did not change. Activities for all other enzymes were unaltered by the LCD. In summary, severe deficiency of dietary carbohydrate combined with a twofold increase in dietary fat and protein caused a rapid three- to fivefold increase in PDHK activity in human skeletal muscle. The increased PDHK activity downregulated the amount of PDH in its active form at rest and decreased carbohydrate metabolism. However, an increase in the activities of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation did not occur.To characterize human skeletal muscle enzymatic adaptation to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and high-protein diet (LCD), subjects consumed a eucaloric diet consisting of 5% of the total energy intake from carbohydrate, 63% from fat, and 33% from protein for 6 days compared with their normal diet (52% carbohydrate, 33% fat, and 14% protein). Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis before and after 3 and 6 days on a LCD. Intact mitochondria were extracted from fresh muscle and analyzed for pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase, total PDH, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activities and mitochondrial ATP production rate (using carbohydrate and fat substrates). beta-Hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase, active PDH (PDHa), and citrate synthase activities were also measured on whole muscle homogenates. PDH kinase (PDHK) was calculated as the absolute value of the apparent first-order rate constant of the inactivation of PDH in the presence of 0.3 mM Mg2+-ATP. PDHK increased dramatically from 0.10 +/- 0.02 min-1 to 0.35 +/- 0.09 min-1 at 3 days and 0.49 +/- 0. 06 min-1 after 6 days. Resting PDHa activity decreased from 0.63 +/- 0.17 to 0.17 +/- 0.04 mmol. min-1. kg-1 after 6 days on the diet, whereas total PDH activity did not change. Activities for all other enzymes were unaltered by the LCD. In summary, severe deficiency of dietary carbohydrate combined with a twofold increase in dietary fat and protein caused a rapid three- to fivefold increase in PDHK activity in human skeletal muscle. The increased PDHK activity downregulated the amount of PDH in its active form at rest and decreased carbohydrate metabolism. However, an increase in the activities of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation did not occur.

Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition by l-NAME on oxygen uptake kinetics in isolated canine muscle in situ

Nitric oxide (NO) has an inhibitory action on O2 uptake at the level of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NO synthase (NOS) inhibition on muscle kinetics. Isolated canine gastrocnemius muscles in situ (n= 6) were studied during transitions from rest to 4‐min of electrically stimulated contractions corresponding to ∼60% of the muscle peak . Two conditions were compared: (i) Control (CTRL) and (ii) l‐NAME, in which the NOS inhibitor l‐NAME (20 mg kg−1) was administered. In both conditions the muscle was pump‐perfused with constantly elevated blood flow , at a level measured during a preliminary contraction trial with spontaneous self‐perfused. A vasodilatory drug was also infused. Arterial and venous O2 concentrations were determined at rest and at 5–7 s intervals during the transition. was calculated by Ficks principle. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest and during contractions. Muscle force was measured continuously. Phosphocreatine hydrolysis and the calculated substrate level phosphorylation were slightly (but not significantly) lower in l‐NAME than in CTRL. Significantly (P < 0.05) less fatigue was found in l‐NAME versus CTRL. The time delay (TDf) and the time constant (τf) of the ‘fundamental’ component of kinetics were not significantly different between CTRL (TDf 7.2 ± 1.2 s; and τf 10.6 ± 1.3, ±s.e.m.) and l‐NAME (TDf 9.3 ± 0.6; and τf 10.4 ± 1.0). Contrary to our hypothesis, NOS inhibition did not accelerate muscle kinetics. The down‐regulation of mitochondrial respiration by NO does not limit the kinetics of adjustment of oxidative metabolism at exercise onset.

Kinetic control of oxygen consumption during contractions in self-perfused skeletal muscle

Non‐technical summary  The ability to sustain exercise is dependent on the ability to match muscular energy supply fuelled by oxygen to the energy demands of the activity (the ‘currency’ of biological energy is termed ATP). Experiments using muscle samples in a test tube suggest that the activation of muscle oxygen consumption is caused by accumulation of ADP (a breakdown product of ATP), which signals the need to increase ATP supply. The mechanism of this signalling process in vivo, however, is not well understood. We investigated the mechanism controlling oxidative ATP supply activation in canine muscle, by simultaneous measurements of oxygen consumption and ADP at the onset of muscle contractions. At the start of contractions muscle oxygen consumption increased more rapidly than predicted from the measured accumulation of ADP. These data suggest that an additional process (or processes) occurs to activate muscle oxidative ATP provision at the onset of exercise in vivo.