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. 2023 Dec;123(12):2771-2778.
doi: 10.1007/s00421-023-05266-5. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT 4 protein, and perilipin protein expression

Sudip Bajpeyi  1 , Jehu N Apaflo  2 , Victoria Rosas  2 , Keisha Sepulveda-Rivera  2 , Armando Varela-Ramirez  3 , Jeffrey D Covington  4 , Jose E Galgani  5 , Eric Ravussin  6
Affiliations

Effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT 4 protein, and perilipin protein expression

Sudip Bajpeyi et al. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: Smaller lipid droplet morphology and GLUT 4 protein expression have been associated with greater muscle oxidative capacity and glucose uptake, respectively. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute long-duration exercise bout on skeletal muscle lipid droplet morphology, GLUT4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 expressions.

Methods: Twenty healthy men (age 24.0 ± 1.0 years, BMI 23.6 ± 0.4 kg/m2) were recruited for the study. The participants were subjected to an acute bout of exercise on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2max until they reached a total energy expenditure of 650 kcal. The study was conducted after an overnight fast. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before and immediately after exercise for immunohistochemical analysis to determine lipid, perilipin 3, perilipin 5, and GLUT4 protein contents while GLUT 4 mRNA was quantified using RT-qPCR.

Results: Lipid droplet size decreased whereas total intramyocellular lipid content tended to reduce (p = 0.07) after an acute bout of endurance exercise. The density of smaller lipid droplets in the peripheral sarcoplasmic region significantly increased (0.584 ± 0.04 to 0.638 ± 0.08 AU; p = 0.01) while larger lipid droplets significantly decreased (p < 0.05). GLUT4 mRNA tended to increase (p = 0.05). There were no significant changes in GLUT 4, perilipin 3, and perilipin 5 protein levels.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that exercise may impact metabolism by enhancing the quantity of smaller lipid droplets over larger lipid droplets.

Keywords: Fat; Glucose; Intramyocellular; Lipid; PLIN; Triglycerides.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations

Conflict of interest: The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lipid droplet density measurement before (Pre) and after (Post) an acute bout of exercise. a Total mean IMCL density. b Change in lipid droplet size distribution within the peripheral region of myofibers. Data presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
GLUT 4 mRNA expression level (a) and GLUT 4 protein (b) in skeletal muscle before (Pre) and after (Post) acute exercise. Data presented as mean ± SEM
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Muscle perilipin 3 (a) and perilipin 5 (b) contents before (Pre) and after (Post) an acute bout of exercise. Data presented as mean ±SEM
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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