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The time course of phosphorylcreatine (PC) resynthesis in the human m. quadriceps femoris was studied during recovery from exhaustive dynamic exercise and from isometric contraction sustained to fatigue. The immediate postexercise muscle PC content after either form of exercise was 15-16% of the resting muscle content. The time course of PC resynthesis during recovery was biphasic exhibiting a fast and slow recovery component. The half-time for the fast component was 21-22s but this accounted for a smaller fraction of the total PC restored during recovery from the isometric contraction than after the dynamic exercise. The half-time for the slow component was in each case more than 170 s. After 2 and 4 min recovery the total amount of PC resynthesized after the isometric exercise were significantly lower than from the dynamic exercise. Occlusion of the circulation of the quadriceps completely abolished the resynthesis of PC. Restoration of resynthesis occurred only after release of occlusion.

SUBMARY1. The effects of altered tissue temperature on muscle metabolism during successive isometric contractions, sustained to fatigue, have been studied in the quadriceps muscle of man by combining biochemical analyses of metabolites in needle biopsy samples with measurements of endurance time with a force of 2/3 maximum voluntary contraction. Fatigue and recovery were observed repeatedly in a series of seven contractions at intervals of 20 sec, following immersion of the test leg in water at 12, 26 or 440 C for 45 min. Muscle temperatures corresponding to these water temperatures were 22-5, 32-6 and 38 6°C respectively.2. Increased levels of several glycolytic intermediates at rest in the heated muscle suggested an increased rate of glycolysis. ATP and phosphoryl creatine were lower at the end of the first contraction and the calculated rate of ATP utilization (including the contribution from anaerobic glycolysis) was highest in the heated nuscle.3. Significantly shorter endurance times were found for the heated muscle. These could not be attributed to depletion of local energy resources in muscle. Fatigue may be due to a reduction in the rate of regeneration of ATP from anaerobic glycolysis below that needed to maintain the contraction force. Lower values for the ratio of fructose 1,6-diphosphate: fructose 6-phosphate at the end of contractions, particularly at the highest temperature, are compatible with the hypothesis that there is partial inhibition of the rate controlling enzyme phosphofructokinase, possibly due to the accumulation of hydrogen ions in muscle.

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Comparisons have been made between torque (isometric and isokinetic), electrophysiological (SFEMG, Macro EMG), and muscle fiber characteristics in the vastus lateralis muscle of both legs in healthy subjects aged between 20 and 70 years. Torque was greater in males and decreased with age in both sexes. Multifactorial analysis showed a positive correlation between torque, body surface area, and mean fiber area. These variables explained only about 30-40% of the torque changes. The electrophysiological parameters (Marco EMG amplitudes and fiber density) revealed evidence of reinnervation, indicating preceeding denervation and therefore loss of motor units. It was concluded that this fall out of motor units also contributes to the reduction in torque, when compensatory reinnervation begins to fall. Other factors, such as reduction in muscle fiber contractility, metabolic factors, and central factors, may also play a role in age-related reduction in torque.