ISSN:
1432-2013
Keywords:
Exercise
;
Heart
;
Mitochondria
;
Oxygen uptake
;
Respiration
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The relationship between maximal oxygen consumption rate ( $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$$ ) and mitochondrial content of skeletal muscles was examined in horses and steers (n=3 each). Samples of the heart left ventricle, diaphragm,m. vastus medialis, m. semitendinosus, m. cutaneous thoracicus andm. masseter, as well as samples of muscles collected in a whole-body sampling procedure, were analyzed by electron microscopy. $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$$ per kilogram body mass was 2.7× greater in horses than steers. This higher $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$$ was in proportion to the higher total volume of mitochondria in horse versus steer muscle when analyzed from the whole-body samples and from the locomotor muscle samples. In non-locomotor muscles, total mitochondrial volume was greater in horses than steers, but not in proportion to their differences in $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$$ . The $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}}$$ of the mitochondria was estimated to be close to 4.5 ml O2·ml−1 mitochondria in both species. It is concluded that in a comparison of a highly aerobic to a less aerobic mammalian species of similar body size, a higher oxidative potential may be found in all muscles of the more aerobic species. This greater oxidative potential is achieved by a greater total volume of skeletal muscle mitochondria.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00584481
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