Summary
Total creatine kinase (CK) and CK MB activities were determined in gastrocnemius muscle and serum obtained from 14 female marathon runners. The level of CK MB in muscle increased significantly (p<0.05) after chronic exercise training from 5.3% to 10.5% of the total CK activity, but not after acute exercise (post-marathon 8.9%). No significant differences in total CK activities were detected. However, the total CK activity in the muscles were significantly (p<0.05) less than those previously reported from the muscle of men runners (1800 U/g, 3000 U/g respectively). No significant correlation existed between fiber type and muscle CK MB activity. Additionally, trace amounts of mitochondrial CK and CK BB were present in muscle homogenates. A significant correlation was observed in the increase in mean serum total CK (597 UL−1) and CK MB (23 UL−1) activities 24 h after the race (r=0.97,P<0.05). These results suggest that gastrocnemius muscle in women adapts to training with increased CK MB activities and imply that skeletal muscle is the major source of elevated serum CK MB activities in women marathon runners.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Apple FS, McGue MK (1983) Serum enzyme changes during marathon training. Am J Clin Pathol 79:716–719
Apple FS, Rogers MA, Sherman WM, Ivy JL (1984) Comparison of serum creatine kinase and creatine kinase MB activities post marathon race vs post myocardial infarction. Clin Chem Acta 138:111–118
Apple FS, Rogers MA, Casal DC, Sherman WM, Ivy J (1985) Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme adaptations in stressed human skeletal muscle of marathon runners. J Appl Physiol 59:149–153
Bergstrom J (1962) Muscle electrolytes in man. Scand J Clin Lab Invest [Suppl] 14:1–11
Bessman SP, Yang WC, Geiger PJ, Viitanen SE (1980) Intimate coupling of creatine phosphokinase and myofibrillar adenosine triphosphate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 96:1414–1420
Hikida RS, Staron RS, Hagerman FC, Sherman WM (1983) Muscle fiber necrosis associated with marathon runners. J Neurol Sci 59:185–203
Holloszy JO (1975) Adaptation of skeletal muscle to endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports 7:155–164
Lang H (1981) Creatine kinsase isoenzymes. New York: Springer-Verlag
Padykula HA, Herman E (1955) Factors affecting the activity of ATP and other phosphatases as measured by histochemical techniques. Histochem Cytochem 3:161–169
Roberts R, Sobel BE (1978) Creatine kinase isoenzymes in assessment of heart disease. Am Heart J 95:521–528
Rogers MA, Stull GA, Apple FS (1985) Creatine kinase isoenzyme activities in men and women following a marathon race. Med Sci Sports Exerc 17:679–682
Saks VA, Rosenshtraukh LV, Smirnov VN, Chazov EI (1978) Role of creatine phosphokinase in cellular function and metabolism. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 56:691–706
Sylven C, Jansson E, Olin C (1983) Human myocardial and skeletal muscle enzyme activities: creatine kinase and it's isoenzyme MB as related to citrate synthase and muscle fiber types. Clin Physiol 3:461–468
Tzvetanova E (1971) Creatine kinase isoenzymes in muscle tissue of patients with neuromuscular diseases and human fetuses. Enzyme 12:279–284
Warhol MJ, Siegel AJ, Evans WJ, Silverman LM (1985) Skeletal muscle injury and repair in marathon runners after competition. Am J Pathol 118:331–339
Witteveen SA, Sobel BE, DeLuca M (1974) Kinetic properties of the isoenzymes of human creatine phosphokinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 71:1384–1387
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Apple, F.S., Rogers, M.A., Casal, D.C. et al. Skeletal muscle creatine kinase MB alterations in women marathon runners. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 56, 49–52 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696375
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696375