Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The intracellular to extracellular proton gradient following maximal whole body exercise and its implication for anaerobic energy production

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Maximal exercise elicits systemic acidosis where venous pH can drop to 6.74 and here we assessed how much lower the intracellular value (pHi) might be. The wrist flexor muscles are intensively involved in rowing and 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy allows for calculation of forearm pHi and energy metabolites at high time resolution. Arm venous blood was collected in seven competitive rowers (4 males; 72 ± 5 kg; mean ± SD) at rest and immediately after a “2,000 m” maximal rowing ergometer effort when hemoglobin O2 saturation decreased from 51 ± 4 to 29 ± 9% and lactate rose from 1.0 ± 0.1 to 16.8 ± 3.6 mM. Venous pH and pHi decreased from 7.43 ± 0.01 to 6.90 ± 0.01 and from 7.05 ± 0.02 to 6.32 ± 0.19 (P < 0.05), respectively, while the ratio of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine increased from 0.12 ± 0.03 to 1.50 ± 0.49 (P < 0.05). The implication of the recorded intravascular and intracellular acidosis and the decrease in PCr is that the anaerobic contribution to energy metabolism during maximal rowing corresponds to 4.47 ± 1.8 L O2, a value similar to that defined as the “accumulated oxygen deficit”. In conclusion, during maximal rowing the intracellular acidosis, expressed as proton concentration, surpasses ~4-fold the intravascular acidosis, while the resting gradient is ~2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achten E, Van Cauteren M, Willem R, Luypaert R, Malaisse WJ, Van Bosch G, Delanghe G, De Meirleir K, Osteaux M (1990) 31P-NMR spectroscopy and the metabolic properties of different muscle fibers. J Appl Physiol 68:644–649

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bangsbo J (1998) Quantification of anaerobic energy production during intense exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30:47–52

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bangsbo J, Michalsik L, Petersen A (1993) Accumulated O2 deficit during intense exercise and muscle characteristics of elite athletes. Int J Sports Med 14:207–213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergström J (1962) Muscle electrolytes in man. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 12(Suppl 68):11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Boushel R, Madsen P, Nielsen HB, Quistorff B, Secher NH (1998a) Contribution of pH, diprotonated phosphate and potassium for the reflex increase in blood pressure during handgrip. Acta Physiol Scand 164:269–275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boushel R, Pott F, Madsen P, Rådegran G, Nowak M, Quistorff B, Secher N (1998b) Muscle metabolism from near infrared spectroscopy during rhythmic handgrip in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 79:41–48

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brøns C, Jensen CB, Storgaard H, Alibegovic A, Jacobsen S, Nilsson E, Astrup A, Quistorff B, Vaag A (2008) Mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle is normal and unrelated to insulin action in young men born with low birth weight. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93:3885–3892

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks GA (2002) Lactate shuttles in nature. Biochem Soc Trans 30:258–264

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cairns SP (2006) Lactic acid and exercise performance: culprit or friend? Sports Med 36:279–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costa Leite T, Da Silva D, Guimarães Coelho R, Zancan P, Sola-Penna M (2007) Lactate favours the dissociation of skeletal muscle 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase tetramers down-regulating the enzyme and muscle glycolysis. Biochem J 408:123–130

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitts RH (1994) Cellular mechanisms of muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev 74:49–94

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green S, Dawson B (1993) Measurement of anaerobic capacities in humans. Definitions, limitations and unsolved problems. Sports Med 5:312–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermansen L, Osnes JB (1972) Blood and muscle pH after maximal exercise in man. J Appl Physiol 32:304–308

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoch JC, Stern SS (1996) NMR data processing. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Juel C (2008) Regulation of pH in human skeletal muscle: adaptations to physical activity. Acta Physiol 193:17–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krogh A, Lindhard J (1920) The changes in respiration at the transition from work to rest. J Physiol 53:431–437

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lauritsen TL, Grunnet N, Rasmussen A, Secher NH, Quistorff B (2002) The effect of hepatectomy on glucose homeostasis in pig and in man. J Hepatol 36:99–104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lundsgaard E (1932) Betydningen af faenomenet maelkesyrefrie muskelkontraktoner for opfattelsen af muskelkontraktioners kemi. Danske Hospitalstidende 75:84–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Margaria R, Edwards HT, Dill DB (1933) The possible mechanisms of contracting and paying the oxygen debt and the role of lactic acid in muscular contraction. Am J Physiol 106:689–715

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medbø JI, Mohn AC, Tabata I, Bahr R, Vaage O, Sejersted OM (1988) Anaerobic capacity determined by maximal accumulated O2 deficit. J Appl Physiol 64:50–60

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mizuno M, Secher NH, Quistorff B (1994) 31P-NMR spectroscopy, rsEMG, and histochemical fiber types of human wrist flexor muscles. J Appl Physiol 76:531–538

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen HB (1999) pH after competitive rowing: the lower physiological range? Acta Physiol Scand 165:113–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen OB, Paoli F, Overgaard K (2001) Protective effects of lactic acid on force production in rat skeletal muscle. J Physiol 536:161–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen HB, Hein L, Svendsen LB, Secher NH, Quistorff B (2002) Bicarbonate attenuates intracellular acidosis. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 46:579–584

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen HB, Febbraio MA, Ott P, Krustrup P, Secher NH (2007) Hepatic lactate uptake versus leg lactate output during exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 103:1227–1233

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen TH, Nielsen OB, Lamb GD, Stephenson GD (2004) Intracellular acidosis enhances the excitability of working muscle. Science 305:1144–1147

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pripstein LP, Rhodes EC, McKenzie DC, Coutts KD (1999) Aerobic and anaerobic energy during a 2-km race simulation in female rowers. Eur J Appl Physiol 79:491–494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quistorff B, Secher NH, Van Lieshout JJ (2008) Lactate fuels the human brain during exercise. FASEB J 22:3443–3449

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen UF, Rasmussen HN, Krustrup P, Quistorff B, Saltin B, Bangsbo J (2001) Aerobic metabolism of human quadriceps muscle: in vivo data parallel measurements on isolated mitochondria. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 280:E301–E330

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ratkevicius A, Quistorff B (2002) Metabolic costs of force generation for constant-frequency and catchlike-inducing electrical stimulation in human tibialis anterior muscle. Muscle Nerve 25:419–426

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renaud JM (1989) The effect of lactate on intracellular pH and force recovery of fatigued sartorius muscles of the frog, Rana pipiens. J Physiol 416:31–47

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sacks J, Sacks WC (1937) Blood and muscle lactic acid in the steady state. Am J Physiol 118:697–702

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahlin K, Alvestrand A, Brandt R, Hultman E (1978) Intracellular pH and bicarbonate concentration in human muscle during recovery from exercise. J Appl Physiol 45:474–480

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Secher NH, Volianitis S (2006) Are the arms and legs in competition for cardiac output? Med Sci Sports Exerc 38:1797–1803

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Secher NH, Clausen JP, Klausen K, Noer I, Trap-Jensen J (1977) Central and regional circulatory effects of adding arm exercise to leg exercise. Acta Physiol Scand 100:288–297

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Secher NH, Petersen S, Grimby G (1984) Effect of tubocurarine on static and dynamic muscle contractions in man. Acta Physiol Scand 120:251–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Secher NH, Rube N, Elers J (1988) Strength of two- and one-leg extension in man. Acta Physiol Scand 134:333–339

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volianitis S, Secher NH (2009) Rowing, the ultimate challenge to the human body—implications for physiological variables. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 29:241–244

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westerblad H, Allen DG (1992) Changes of intracellular pH due to repetitive stimulation of single fibres from mouse skeletal muscle. J Physiol 449:49–71

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 E4, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark

    Stefanos Volianitis

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    N. H. Secher

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    B. Quistorff

Authors
  1. Stefanos Volianitis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. H. Secher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Quistorff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefanos Volianitis.

Additional information

Communicated by Susan Ward.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Volianitis, S., Secher, N.H. & Quistorff, B. The intracellular to extracellular proton gradient following maximal whole body exercise and its implication for anaerobic energy production. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 1171–1177 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1451-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1451-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation