Abstract
Purpose
We have previously shown that 6 weeks of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) improves \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)max in sedentary men and women and insulin sensitivity in men. Here, we present two studies examining the acute physiological and molecular responses to REHIT.
Methods
In Study 1, five men and six women (age: 26 ± 7 year, BMI: 23 ± 3 kg m−2, \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)max: 51 ± 11 ml kg−1 min−1) performed a single 10-min REHIT cycling session (60 W and two 20-s ‘all-out’ sprints), with vastus lateralis biopsies taken before and 0, 30, and 180 min post-exercise for analysis of glycogen content, phosphorylation of AMPK, p38 MAPK and ACC, and gene expression of PGC1α and GLUT4. In Study 2, eight men (21 ± 2 year; 25 ± 4 kg·m−2; 39 ± 10 ml kg−1 min−1) performed three trials (REHIT, 30-min cycling at 50 % of \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)max, and a resting control condition) in a randomised cross-over design. Expired air, venous blood samples, and subjective measures of appetite and fatigue were collected before and 0, 15, 30, and 90 min post-exercise.
Results
Acutely, REHIT was associated with a decrease in muscle glycogen, increased ACC phosphorylation, and activation of PGC1α. When compared to aerobic exercise, changes in \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\), RER, plasma volume, and plasma lactate and ghrelin were significantly more pronounced with REHIT, whereas plasma glucose, NEFAs, PYY, and measures of appetite were unaffected.
Conclusions
Collectively, these data demonstrate that REHIT is associated with a pronounced disturbance of physiological homeostasis and associated activation of signalling pathways, which together may help explain previously observed adaptations once considered exclusive to aerobic exercise.
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Abbreviations
- ACC:
-
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
- AMPK:
-
AMP-activated protein kinase
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- ATP:
-
Adenosine triphosphate
- AUC:
-
Area under the curve
- β-HAD:
-
β-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- COX IV:
-
Cytochrome c oxidase
- EPOC:
-
Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption
- GAPDH:
-
Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase
- GLUT4:
-
Glucose transporter 4
- HIT:
-
High-intensity interval training
- HRmax:
-
Maximal heart rate
- p38 MAPK:
-
p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase
- NEFA:
-
Non-esterified fatty acid
- PCR:
-
Polymerase chain reaction
- PGC1α:
-
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha
- PYY:
-
Peptide YY
- REHIT:
-
Reduced-exertion HIT
- RER:
-
Respiratory exchange ratio
- RPE:
-
Rating of perceived exertion
- \(\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}\)max:
-
Maximal oxygen uptake capacity
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Dr. James Betts, Jacqueline Hutchinson, James Lloyd, Emily Mumford, Patrick Radley, and Catherine Thomas for assistance with data collection, and Samantha Sargant for providing technical assistance with the biochemical analysis of the muscle samples. RSM is supported by a PhD studentship provided by the Department for Health, University of Bath. FK and GDH thank MRC, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation for grant support.
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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
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Communicated by William J. Kraemer.
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Metcalfe, R.S., Koumanov, F., Ruffino, J.S. et al. Physiological and molecular responses to an acute bout of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT). Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2321–2334 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3217-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3217-6