The purpose of this study was to determine if 14 wk of exercise training would increase insulin-sensitive glucose transporter protein (GLUT-4) concentration in skeletal muscle of previously sedentary middle-aged men (47.2 +/- 1.3 yr; n = 13). Muscle samples (lateral gastrocnemius) and insulin action [insulin sensitivity index (ISI), minimal model] were obtained in the sedentary condition and 48 h after the final training bout. GLUT-4 protein concentration increased (P < 0.001, 2,629 +/- 331 to 4,140 +/- 391 absorbance units/100 micrograms protein) with exercise training by 1.8-fold. ISI increased by twofold (P < 0.05, 2.1 +/- 0.5 to 3.4 +/- 0.7 SI x 10(5) min/pM) with training. The percentage of GLUT-4 rich type IIa muscle fibers increased by approximately 10% (P < 0.01), which may have contributed to the elevation in transporter protein. GLUT-4 concentration and citrate synthase activity (1.7-fold, P < 0.001) also increased by similar increments. These findings indicate that GLUT-4 protein concentration is elevated in middle-aged individuals with exercise training.

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This study examined if measures associated with distance running performance were affected by short-term (14 d) training cessation in 12 distance runners. VO2max decreased by approximately 3 ml.kg-1.min-1 (mean +/- SE, 61.6 +/- 2.0 vs 58.7 +/- 1.8 ml.kg-1.min-1, p < 0.05) with training cessation. Time to exhaustion (TTE) during the incremental VO2max test decreased by 1.2 min (13.0 +/- 0.5 vs 11.8 +/- 0.5 min, p < 0.001) and maximal heart rate increased (p < 0.001) by 9 beats per minute (BPM). No changes in running economy (75 and 90% VO2max) were evident, although submaximal heart rate increased by 11 BPM (p < 0.001) at both running speeds. Other evidence for detraining were decreases in estimated resting plasma volume (-5.1 +/- 1.9%) and muscle citrate synthase activity (-25.3 +/- 2.6%, p < 0.05). Muscular atrophy (muscle fiber cross-sectional area) was not evident. TTE and submaximal heart rate exhibited relatively large percent changes (-9 and +6%, respectively) compared to VO2max (-4%). These findings indicate that the reduction in VO2max with short-term training cessation is relatively small. TTE and submaximal heart rate may be easily measured, yet more sensitive indicators of decrements in distance running performance.

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