Oxidative and lysosomal capacity in skeletal muscle of mice after endurance training of different intensities.

The activity of certain enzymes of energy metabolism (cytochrome c oxidase, citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase) and of lysosomes (beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosamindase, arylsuphatase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, acid phosphatase, and cathepsin D) was assayed from m. rectus femoris of mice trained 5 days per week, 1 hr per day for 4 weeks according to 4 different programmes: I. running speed 20 m/min, horizontal track, II. 25 m/min, horizontal track, III. 20 m/min 8 degrees uphill inclination, and IV. 25 m/min 8 degrees uphill inclination. Oxidative capacity increased and anaerobic capacity decreased without distinction between the different traning programmes. Of acid hydrolases assayed the activities of beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D were increased independently of training intensity. Simultaneous histochemical observations on beta-glucuronidase and arylsulphatase activities in the contralateral m. rectus femoris showed more intense staining in red as compared to white muscle fibres. It is suggested that training affected the red fibres and that the applied level of loading was probably too low to cause major involvement of white fibres.