The nature of the training response; peripheral and central adaptations of one-legged exercise

13 male subjects were studied and placed in 3 groups. Each group exercised one leg with sprint (S), or endurance (E) training and the other leg oppositely or not at all (NT). Oxygen uptake (Vo2), heart rate and blood lactate were measured for each leg separately and for both legs together during submaximal and maximal bicycle work before and after 4 weeks of training with 4-5 sessions per week. Muscle samples were obtained from the quadriceps muscle and assayed for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, and stained for myofibrillar ATPase. In addition, eight of the subjects performed after the training two-legged exercise at 70% Vo2 max for one hour. The measurements included muscle glycogen and lactate concentrations of the two legs as well as the blood flow and the a-v difference for O2, glucose and lactate.