Electrolytes in slow and fast muscle fibers of humans at rest and with dynamic exercise

Sodium, potassium, and magnesium were analyzed in human slow-twitch (ST) and fast-twitch (FT) skeletal muscles. In contrast to other species, no relation was found between fiber composition and electrolyte distribution. In soleus (S), vastus lateralis (VL), and triceps brachii (TB) the overall mean values for 6 men and 6 women were 44 mmol K/100 g dry wt and 11 mmol Na/100 g dry wt; the intracellular concentrations were 161 mmol K/l and 26 mmol Na/l with no differences between the muscles. Analysis of fragments of single ST and FT fibers from each of the muscles also showed no difference between the fiber types in Na and K content. Small differences were seen between the muscles with regard to Mg, but these were not related to fiber composition compared with other species. During exercise to exhaustion (3 bouts of bicycling for 3 min at 325-395 W, 6 men) the extracellular electrolyte concentrations for Na, K, and Mg increased from 134 to 140, 4.5 to 5.8, and 0.75 to 0.87 mmol/l, respectively (P less than 0.05). In VL Na content increased from 9.8 to 16.5 mmol/100 g dry wt, while intracellular [Na] remained constant. In contrast, intracellular [K] decreased from 161 to 141 mmol/l (P less than 0.05). No such changes occurred in TB. In concert with other studies the present changes in electrolytes in the working muscles indicate that muscle fatigue may be related to changes at the muscle fiber membrane.