Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Metabolic Adaptation in Metabolic Diseases
Published on: October 4, 2024
Adaptations of skeletal muscle mitochondria to exercise training
Carsten Lundby1, Robert A Jacobs1,2,3
1Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, Institute of Physiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Mitochondrial volume density (Mito(VD)) is composed of two distinct mitochondrial subpopulations--intermyofibrillar mitochondria (Mito(IMF)) and subsarcolemmal mitochondria (Mito(SS)). With exercise training, Mito(VD) may increase by up to 40% and is, for the most part, related to an increase in Mito(IMF). Exercise-induced adaptations in mitochondrial function depend on the intensity of training and appear to be explained predominately by an increased expression of mitochondrial enzymes that facilitate aerobic metabolism. Although mitochondrial content often increases with training, it seems that mitochondrial adaptations are not needed to facilitate maximal oxygen uptake, whereas such adaptations are of greater importance for endurance capacity.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles
The muscle sarcolemma is a plasma membrane enclosing each muscle cell that conducts electrical signals called action potentials. The sarcolemma extends into the cell to form T-tubules, ensuring the neural impulses are uniformly distributed across the entire muscle...
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Mitochondria
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

