Muscle metabolism from near infrared spectroscopy during rhythmic handgrip in humans

Robert Boushel*, Frank Pott, Per Madsen, Göran Rådegran, Markus Nowak, Bjørn Quistorff, Niels Secher

*Corresponding author for this work
99 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The rate of metabolism in forearm flexor muscles (MO2) was derived from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS-O2) during ischaemia at rest rythmic handgrip at 15% and 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), post-exercise muscle ischaemia (PEMI), and recovery in seven subjects. The MO2 was compared with forearm oxygen uptake (V̇O2) [flow x (oxygen saturation in arterial blood-oxygen saturation in venous blood, S(a)O2-S(v)O2)], and with the 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy-determined ration of inorganic phosphate to phosphocreatine (P(I):PCr). During ischaemia at rest, the fall in NIRS-O2 was more pronounced [76 (SEM 3) to 3 (SEM 1)%] than in S(v)O2 [7] (SEM 3) to 59 (SEM 2)%]. During the handgrip, NIRS-O2 was lower at 30% compared to 15% MVC [58 (SEM 3) vs 67 (SEM 3)%] while the S(v)O2 was similar [29 (SEM 3) vs 31 (SEM 4)%]. Accordingly, MO2 as well as P(I):PCr increased twofold, while V̇O2 increased only 30%. During PEMI after 15% and 30% MVC, NIRS-O2 fell to 9 (SEM 1)% and 'O', but the use of oxygen by forearm muscles was not reflected in S(v)O2. During reperfusion after PEMI, the peak NIRS-O2 was lowest after intense exercise, while for S(v)O2 the reverse was seen. The discrepancies between NIRSO-O2 and S(v)O2, and therefore between the estimates of the metabolic rate, would suggest significant limitations in sampling venous blood which is representative of the flexor muscle capillaries. In support of this contention, S(v)O2 and venous pH decreased during the first seconds of reperfusion after PEMI. To conclude, NIRS-O2 of forearm flexor muscles closely reflected the exercise intensity and the metabolic rate determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy but not that rate derived from flow and the arterio-venous oxygen difference.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
Volume79
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)41-48
Number of pages8
ISSN0301-5548
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1998

Keywords

  • Energy production
  • Exercise
  • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Venous oxygen saturation

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