Effect of physical training on LDH activity and LDH isozyme pattern in human skeletal muscle

Total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and LDH isozyme pattern were studied in muscle biopsies obtained from m. vastus lateralis after 1) "aerobic" training performed as interval and extreme distance running, respectively (3 subjects); and 2) "anaerobic" training for two months, carried out as repeated maximal bursts of approximately 1 min running (6 subjects). After the "anaerobic training" no changes in LDH properties could be detected, although running performance improved. The extreme distance running resulted in a decrease in total LDH activity and an increase in relative activity of the heart specific isozymes. A relationship was also shown between the relative activity of these isozymes and the training distance covered. The relatively more aerobic prevailing during distance running as compared to "anaerobic training" were proposed to decrease muscle specific subunits and/or increase synthesis of heart specific subunits in both muscle fiber types. This suggestion was supported by isozyme analysis of lyophilized and dissected single muscle fibres.