title: Higher mitochondrial respiration and uncoupling with reduced electron transport chain content in vivo in muscle of sedentary versus active subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the disparity between muscle metabolic rate and mitochondrial metabolism in human muscle of sedentary vs. active individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic activity level was characterized by a physical activity questionnaire and a triaxial accelerometer as well as a maximal oxygen uptake test. The ATP and O(2) fluxes and mitochondrial coupling (ATP/O(2) or P/O) in resting muscle as well as mitochondrial capacity (ATP(max)) were determined in vivo in human vastus lateralis muscle using magnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy on 24 sedentary and seven active subjects. Muscle biopsies were analyzed for electron transport chain content (using complex III as a representative marker) and mitochondrial proteins associated with antioxidant protection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sedentary muscle had lower electron transport chain complex content (65% of the active group) in proportion to the reduction in ATP(max) (0.69 ± 0.07 vs. 1.07 ± 0.06 mM sec(-1)) as compared with active subjects. This lower ATP(max) paired with an unchanged O(2) flux in resting muscle between groups resulted in a doubling of O(2) flux per ATP(max) (3.3 ± 0.3 vs. 1.7 ± 0.2 μM O(2) per mM ATP) that reflected mitochondrial uncoupling (P/O = 1.41 ± 0.1 vs. 2.1 ± 0.3) and greater UCP3/complex III (6.0 ± 0.7 vs. 3.8 ± 0.3) in sedentary vs. active subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A smaller mitochondrial pool serving the same O(2) flux resulted in elevated mitochondrial respiration in sedentary muscle. In addition, uncoupling contributed to this higher mitochondrial respiration. This finding resolves the paradox of stable muscle metabolism but greater mitochondrial respiration in muscle of inactive vs. active subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Box 357115, Seattle, Washington 98195-7115, USA. kconley@uw.edu
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Amara
authors.forename: Sudip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bajpeyi
authors.forename: Sheila R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Costford
authors.forename: Kori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jubrias
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arakaki
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Marcinek
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D019069:Cell Respiration; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000502:physiology; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012146:Rest; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins