Noninvasive measures of oxidative metabolism on working human muscles by near-infrared spectroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the initial rate of hemoglobin and myoglobin deoxygenation during immediate postexercise ischemia, a reflection of muscle O2 consumption (VO2mus), can be a quantitative measure of muscle oxidative metabolism. The finger flexor muscles of five healthy men (aged 25-31 yr) were monitored by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy for changes in phosphocreatine (PCr), Pi, and pH. Tests were conducted during 15 min of cuff ischemia and during 5 min of submaximal isotonic grip exercise at 10, 20, 30, and 40% of maximal voluntary contraction, one contraction every 4 s. The VO2mus changes were also monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy with continuous wave. The VO2mus during exercise was expressed relative to the resting value. The resting metabolic rate, calculated from the PCr breakdown rate after complete O2 depletion, was 0.0010 (SD) mM ATP/s. During submaximal exercise (pH > 6.9), the VO2mus increased with a rise in intensity (0.036 +/- 0.011, 0.054 +/- 0.016, 0.062 +/- 0.012, and 0.067 +/- 0.020 mM ATP/s during 10, 20, 30, and 40% maximal voluntary contraction, respectively) and showed significant correlation with changes in both calculated ADP and PCr values (r2 = 0.98 and r2 = 0.99, respectively). In conclusion, because of the significant correlation with regulatory metabolites (ADP and PCr) of oxidative phosphorylation, O2 decline rate in immediate postexercise ischemia determined by near-infrared spectroscopy with continuous wave can be utilized for the quantitative evaluation of localized muscle oxidative metabolism.