title: Adjustments of muscle capillarity but not mitochondrial protein with skiing in the elderly.
abstract: Downhill skiing in the elderly increases maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and carbohydrate handling, and produces muscle hypertrophy. We hypothesized that adjustments of the cellular components of aerobic glucose combustion in knee extensor muscle, and cardiovascular adjustments, would increase in proportion to VO2max. Nineteen healthy elderly subjects (age 67.5 ± 2.9 years) who completed 28.5 days of guided downhill skiing over 3 months were assessed for anthropometric variables, cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, hematocrit), VO2max, and compared with controls (n = 20). Biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle were analyzed for capillary density and expression of respiratory chain markers (NDUFA9, SDHA, UQCRC1, ATP5A1) and the glucose transporter GLUT4. Statistical significance was assessed with a repeated analysis of variance and Fisher's post-hoc test at a P value of 5%. VO2max increased selectively with ski training (+7 ± 2%). Capillary density (+11 ± 5%) and capillary-to-fiber ratio (12 ± 5%), but not the concentration of metabolic proteins, in vastus lateralis were increased after skiing. Cardiovascular parameters did not change. Fold changes in VO2max and capillary-to-fiber ratio were correlated and were under genetic control by polymorphisms of the regulator of vascular tone, angiotensin converting enzyme. The observations indicate that increased VO2max after recreational downhill ski training is associated with improved capillarity in a mainly recruited muscle group.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.|MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Ginkel
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amami
authors.affiliation: Xlab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dela
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederseer
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.|School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health, Derby Royal Hospital, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Narici
authors.affiliation: University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niebauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scheiber
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.|Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flück
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000378:metabolism; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II / Q000378:metabolism; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010086:Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010086:Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling Factors; C495692:SLC2A4 protein, human; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II; C511268:SDHA protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; C000628217:F(6) ATPase; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I; C571164:NDUFA9 protein, human; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III
keywords: ACE; Oxygen uptake; exercise; glucose; mitochondria; polymorphisms