[Recovery after prolonged muscular work]

Increased protein, tyrosine and 3-methylhistidine content has been observed in the skeletal muscles of rats 2-24 h after a 10-hour swimming period. This was accompanied by a significant rise in 3-methylhistidine excretion during the second day of the recovery period. Such combination of alterations suggests simultaneous augmentation of both protein synthesis and decomposition in the muscles after active work. The start of the alterations coincides with post-exercise increase of blood corticosterone level (2-6 h after work) and with the achievement of glycogen supercompensation in the liver and muscles.