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Carbohydrate utilization in exercising muscle in subtotally nephrectomized rabbits
A Parrish1, M Zikira, C Tomacelli
1Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
Nephron
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Subtotally nephrectomized rabbits showed altered muscle metabolism during exercise, with higher lactate and pyruvate levels, similar to human renal failure. Exercise capacity was not affected in these experimental animals.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Nephrology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Renal failure is associated with metabolic disturbances.
- Muscle function and metabolism can be affected by reduced kidney function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of subtotal nephrectomy on skeletal muscle metabolism during exercise in rabbits.
- To compare metabolic changes in exercised muscle between nephrectomized and control rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Subtotal nephrectomy was performed on rabbits, with sham-operated rabbits serving as controls.
- Isolated soleus muscles were subjected to controlled electrical stimulation until contraction amplitude halved.
- Muscle tissue was analyzed for lactate, pyruvate, glycogen, alanine, and alpha-ketoglutarate.
- Blood lactate levels were also measured.
Main Results:
- Experimental animals exhibited significantly greater differences in muscle lactate and pyruvate concentrations between resting and exercised states.
- Muscle alanine and alpha-ketoglutarate concentrations were lower in experimental animals.
- No significant difference in exercise duration to reach half contraction amplitude was observed.
- Blood lactate increased more in experimental animals, mirroring human renal failure findings.
Conclusions:
- Subtotal nephrectomy alters skeletal muscle substrate metabolism during exercise in rabbits.
- These metabolic changes in muscle resemble those seen in human renal failure patients.
- Despite metabolic alterations, exercise performance (time to fatigue) was not impaired in the short term.