Effect of training and detraining on skeletal muscle glucose transporter (GLUT4) content in rats

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of treadmill exercise training and detraining on the skeletal muscle fiber type specific expression of the insulin-regulated glucose transporter protein (GLUT4) in rats. GLUT4 protein content was determined by Western and dot-blot analysis, using a polyclonal antibody raised against the carboxy-terminal peptide. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last training session. There were no significant changes in muscle GLUT4 after 1 day or 1 week of training. Six weeks of training increased GLUT4 protein content 1.4- to 1.7-fold (p < 0.05) over controls in the soleus and red vastus lateralis, whereas no significant change was evident in the white vastus lateralis muscle. GLUT4 protein content in both soleus and red vastus lateralis muscle returned to near control values after 7 days of detraining. Similar to GLUT4, citrate synthase activity showed no change after 1 day or 1 week of training, increased 1.8-fold over controls after 6 weeks of training, but returned to control values after 7 days detraining. These findings demonstrate that muscle GLUT4 protein is increased in rats with as little as 6 weeks of treadmill exercise training but that the adaptation is lost within 1 week of detraining. It is suggested that expression of the GLUT4 protein is coordinated with the well-documented adaptations in oxidative enzyme activity with endurance training and detraining.