Control of respiration and bioenergetics during muscle contraction

Abstract

1H-NMR experiments have determined intracellular O2consumption (V̇o2) with oxymyoglobin (MbO2) desaturation kinetics in human calf muscle during plantar flexion exercise at 0.75, 0.92, and 1.17 Hz with a constant load. At the onset of muscle contraction, myoglobin (Mb) desaturates rapidly. The desaturation rate constant of ∼30 s reflects the intracellular V̇o2. Although Mb desaturates quickly with a similar time constant at all workload levels, its final steady-state level differs. As work increases, the final steady-state cellular Po2decreases progressively. After Mb desaturation has reached a steady state, however, V̇o2continues to rise. On the basis of current respiratory control models, the analysis in the present report reveals two distinct V̇o2phases: an ADP-independent phase at the onset of contraction and an ADP-dependent phase after Mb has reached a steady state. In contrast to the accepted view, the initial intracellular V̇o2shows that oxidative phosphorylation can support up to 36% of the energy cost, a significantly higher fraction than expected. Partitioning of the energy flux shows that a 31% nonoxidative component exists and responds to the dynamic energy utilization-restoration cycle (which lasts for only milliseconds) as postulated in the glycogen shunt theory. The present study offers perspectives on the regulation of respiration, bioenergetics, and Mb function during muscle contraction.