Curwin S L, Vailas A C, Wood J
Department of Kinesiology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1568.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1988 Nov;65(5):2297-301. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1988.65.5.2297.
White Leghorn roosters (3 wk old) were randomly assigned to runner or control groups. Runners were subjected to a progressive treadmill running program for 8 wk, 5 days/wk at 70-80% maximal O2 consumption (VO2 max). After 8 wk, runners showed a significant elevation in gastrocnemius fumarase activity (51%) and a 21% increase in VO2max compared with controls. The exercise program induced a significant increase in tendon collagen deposition (46%) without any changes in DNA, proteoglycan, and collagen concentrations or tendon dry weight. Also, tendon collagen from runners contained fewer (50%) pyridinoline cross-links. These results suggest that high-intensity exercise causes greater matrix-collagen turnover in growing chickens, resulting in reduced maturation of tendon collagen.
