Glucose supplements increase human muscle in vitro Na+-K+-ATPase activity during prolonged exercise

Regulation of maximal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in vastus lateralis muscle was investigated in response to prolonged exercise with (G) and without (NG) oral glucose supplements. Fifteen untrained volunteers (14 males and 1 female) with a peak aerobic power (Vo(2)(peak)) of 44.8 +/- 1.9 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); mean +/- SE cycled at approximately 57% Vo(2)(peak) to fatigue during both NG (artificial sweeteners) and G (6.13 +/- 0.09% glucose) in randomized order. Consumption of beverage began at 30 min and continued every 15 min until fatigue. Time to fatigue was increased (P < 0.05) in G compared with NG (137 +/- 7 vs. 115 +/- 6 min). Maximal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity (V(max)) as measured by the 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase assay (nmol.mg(-1).h(-1)) was not different between conditions prior to exercise (85.2 +/- 3.3 or 86.0 +/- 3.9), at 30 min (91.4 +/- 4.7 vs. 91.9 +/- 4.1) and at fatigue (92.8 +/- 4.3 vs. 100 +/- 5.0) but was higher (P < 0.05) in G at 90 min (86.7 +/- 4.2 vs. 109 +/- 4.1). Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase content (beta(max)) measured by the vanadate facilitated [(3)H]ouabain-binding technique (pmol/g wet wt) although elevated (P < 0.05) by exercise (0<30, 90, and fatigue) was not different between NG and G. At 60 and 90 min of exercise, blood glucose was higher (P < 0.05) in G compared with NG. The G condition also resulted in higher (P < 0.05) serum insulin at similar time points to glucose and lower (P < 0.05) plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine at 90 min of exercise and at fatigue. These results suggest that G results in an increase in V(max) by mechanisms that are unclear.