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Related Experiment Video

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Measurement of Basal and Forskolin-stimulated Lipolysis in Inguinal Adipose Fat Pads

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Published on: July 21, 2017

Reduced plasma free fatty acid availability during exercise: effect on gene expression.

Rebecca J Tunstall¹, Andrew J McAinch, Mark Hargreaves

¹School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

|December 23, 2006

Summary

Elevated plasma fatty acids (FA) after exercise do not regulate key metabolic genes in skeletal muscle. This study shows exercise-induced gene changes occur independently of increased FA availability during recovery.

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Fiber Type and Subcellular-Specific Analysis of Lipid Droplet Content in Skeletal Muscle

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Published on: June 8, 2022

Area of Science:

Exercise Physiology
Molecular Biology
Skeletal Muscle Metabolism

Background:

Endurance exercise impacts skeletal muscle metabolism by altering gene expression.
Elevated plasma fatty acids (FA) are observed during prolonged exercise and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the sensitivity of key metabolic genes to FA exposure in vitro.
To determine if elevated plasma FA during exercise recovery influences the expression of these genes in vivo.

Main Methods:

L6 myotubes were used to assess gene sensitivity to FA in vitro.
Nine males underwent 2-hour exercise followed by 2-hour recovery, with and without acipimox to block FA increase.
Skeletal muscle gene expression (PDK4, PGC-1alpha, CPT I, UCP-3) was measured.

Main Results:

In vitro, PDK4 and PGC-1alpha mRNA showed dose-responsive sensitivity to FA.
In vivo, exercise increased PDK4 and PGC-1alpha mRNA regardless of acipimox.
Acipimox did not alter exercise-induced suppression of CPT I or modest regulation of UCP-3 mRNA.

Conclusions:

The post-exercise rise in plasma FA is not necessary for inducing skeletal muscle mRNA expression of key metabolic regulatory proteins.
Exercise-induced changes in substrate metabolism genes occur independently of increased FA availability during recovery.