Rapid upregulation of GLUT-4 and MCT-4 expression during 16 h of heavy intermittent cycle exercise

In this study, we have investigated the hypothesis that an exercise protocol designed to repeatedly induce a large dependence on carbohydrate and large increases in glycolytic flux rate would result in rapid increases in the principal glucose and lactate transporters in working muscle, glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 and monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)4, respectively, and in activity of hexokinase (Hex), the enzyme used to phosphorylate glucose. Transporter abundance and Hex activity were assessed in homogenates by Western blotting and quantitative chemiluminescence and fluorometric techniques, respectively, in samples of tissue obtained from the vastus lateralis in 12 untrained volunteers [peak aerobic power (.VO(2peak)) = 44.3 +/- 2.3 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)] before cycle exercise at repetitions 1 (R1), 2 (R2), 9 (R9), and 16 (R16). The 16 repetitions of the exercise were performed for 6 min at approximately 90% .VO(2peak), once per hour. Compared with R1, GLUT-4 increased (P < 0.05) by 28% at R2 and remained elevated (P < 0.05) at R9 and R16. For MCT-4, increases (P < 0.05) of 24% were first observed at R9 and persisted at R16. No changes were observed in GLUT-1 and MCT-1 or in Hex activity. The approximately 17- to 24-fold increase (P < 0.05) in muscle lactate observed at R1 and R2 was reduced (P < 0.05) to an 11-fold increase at R9 and R16. It is concluded that an exercise protocol designed to strain muscle carbohydrate reserves and to result in large increases in lactic acid results in a rapid upregulation of both GLUT-4 and MCT-4.