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Effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on intramyocellular lipid concentration and high energy phosphates

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Abstract

Eccentric exercise is known to cause changes to the ultrastructure of skeletal muscle and, in turn, may alter the ability of the muscle to store and utilise intracellular substrates such as intramyocellular lipid (IMCL). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) results in IMCL accumulation. Six males (31 ± 6 years; mean ± SD, and 72.3 ± 9.7 kg body mass) performed 300 unilateral, maximal, isokinetic, eccentric contractions (Ecc) (30° s−1) of the quadriceps on an isokinetic dynamometer, followed immediately by an equal amount of work by the contralateral leg but with concentric action (Con). Phosphate compounds and IMCL content of the vastus lateralis of both legs were measured using 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. IMCL content was higher in Ecc than Con 24 h post but the reverse was evident 48 h post-exercise (P = 0.046). A significant time × trial interaction for resting [Pi] (P = 0.045), showed increases in Ecc across time but no change in Con. A significant main effect of trial (P = 0.002) was apparent indicating the Ecc leg had marked metabolic dysfunction. The Pi/PCr ratio showed a significant effect of trial (P = 0.001) with an increase evident in Ecc leg, primarily due to increases in [Pi]. The present study highlights changes in IMCL content of skeletal muscle following EIMD.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Jonathan D. Hughes, Stephen J. Brown & Stephen R. Stannard

  2. Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Nathan A. Johnson

  3. Northside Medical Imaging, Hornsby, Sydney, Australia

    Toos Sachinwalla

  4. Sydney Hills Imaging, Norwest Private Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    David W. Walton

Authors
  1. Jonathan D. Hughes
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  2. Nathan A. Johnson
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  3. Stephen J. Brown
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  4. Toos Sachinwalla
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  5. David W. Walton
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  6. Stephen R. Stannard
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Correspondence to Jonathan D. Hughes.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Hughes, J.D., Johnson, N.A., Brown, S.J. et al. Effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on intramyocellular lipid concentration and high energy phosphates. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 1135–1141 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1605-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1605-5

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