pH heterogeneity in tibial anterior muscle during isometric activity studied by 31P-NMR spectroscopy

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 191 - 200
• Main Authors: Houtman, C. J, Heerschap, A, Zwarts, M. J, Stegeman, D. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.07.2001; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Exercise; Fatigue; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heterogeneity; Muscular system; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Size; Spectroscopy; Striated muscle. Tendons; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Human; Heterogeneity; pH; Isometric muscular contraction; Fatigue; NMR spectrometry; Striated muscle; Anterior tibial muscle
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601

1  Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Neurology and 2  Department of Radiodiagnostics, University Medical Centre, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands The occurrence of pH heterogeneity in human tibial anterior muscle during sustained isometric exercise is demonstrated by applying 31 P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in a study of seven healthy subjects. Exercise was performed at 30 and 60% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until fatigue. The NMR spectra, as localized by a surface coil and improved by proton irradiation, were obtained at a high time resolution (16 s). They revealed the simultaneous presence of two pH pools during most experiments. Maximum difference in the two pH levels during exercise was 0.40   ± 0.07 (30% MVC, n  = 7) and 0.41 ± 0.03 (60% MVC, n  = 3). Complementary two-dimensional 31 P spectroscopic imaging experiments in one subject supported the supposition that the distinct pH pools reflect the metabolic status of the main muscle fiber types. The relative size of the P i peak in the spectrum attributed to the type II fiber pool increases with decreasing pH levels. This phenomenon is discussed in the context of the size principle stating that the smaller (type I) motor units are recruited first. human; size principle; muscle fatigue; sustained isometric exercise; 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy