Effect of endurance training on liver cAMP response to prolonged submaximal exercise

Endurance-trained rats utilize liver glycogen at a reduced rate during exercise compared to nontrained rats. We have compared liver cAMP responses to exercise in trained and nontrained rats in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of this adaptation. Rats were trained on a motor-driven rodent treadmill 5 days/wk for 12 wk. On the day of the test, trained and nontrained rats were quickly anesthetized after running at 21 m/min up a 15% grade for periods up to 90 min. After 45 min of running, liver cAMP had increased from 0.60 +/- 0.01 to 0.90 +/- 0.03 pmol/mg in nontrained rats whereas no significant increase had occurred in livers of trained rats. Plasma glucagon and norepinephrine levels were significantly lower in trained rats at this point. At the end of 90 min hepatic cAMP was 1.28 +/- 0.12 in nontrained compared to 0.83 +/- 0.06 pmol/mg in trained rats. Plasma glucagon was markedly elevated in nontrained but not in trained rats at this time. The lower rate of liver glycogen utilization in trained rats is consistent with the lower cAMP levels maintained early in exercise.