INCREMENTS IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE GLUT-1 AND GLUT-4 AFTER ENDURANCE TRAINING IN HUMANS

We investigated the time course of training-induced changes in the exp ression of GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 in human skeletal muscle. Seven healthy m ales trained for 2 h/day (similar to 60% pretraining VO2peak) for 31 d ays (31D). Muscle biopsies were obtained before training (PRE) and aft er 5 (5D) and 31 days (31D) of training. Training resulted in progress ive increases in muscle GLUT-4 with increasing training duration (PRE < 5D < 31D; P < 0.01). Muscle GLUT-1 content was also increased (P < 0 .05) after training; however, the increase was not observed until 31D (131%). Increases in muscle hexokinase (HK) activity were complete by 5D (P < 0.01). Muscle malate dehydrogenase activity was not elevated a fter 5D of training but was increased (+35%; P < 0.01) at 31D. Results from this study show that increases in both GLUT-4 and HK represent e arly training-induced adaptations to prolonged exercise training. As t raining progresses, further increases in GLUT-4, but not HK, occur in conjunction with an increase in muscle mitochondrial potential and GLU T-1.