Anaerobic threshold, skeletal muscle enzymes and fiber composition in young female cross-country skiers

Abstract

Anaerobic threshold (AT) and maximum oxygen uptake (max VO2) were determined in 15 young female cross-country skiers, aged 15--20 years, during incremental bycycle ergometer exercise. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed biochemically and percentage of slow twitch fibres (%ST fibres, myosin adenosine triphosphatase staining) histochemically in muscle samples obtained from m. vastus lateralis. Max VO2 correlated significantly with anaerobic threshold in ml x kg-1 x min-1 (mlAT) but when AT was expressed in percent of max VO2 (%AT) the correlation was insignificant. Significant correlations were found between %AT and SDH (r = 0.63) and between mlAT and CS (r = 0.58). Max VO2 showed no significant correlations with the enzymes studied or %ST fibres. The results of the study seem to support the hypothesis that anaerobic threshold is related to oxidative capacity of muscle.