The role of intracellular acidosis in muscle fatigue

Abstract

Muscle fatigue is often accompanied by an intracellular acidosis of variable size. The variability reflects the involvement of different metabolic pathways, the presence or absence of blood flow and the effectiveness of pH-regulating pathways. Intracellular acidosis affects many aspects of muscle cell function; for instance it reduces maximal Ca(2+)-activated force and Ca2+ sensitivity, slows the maximal shortening velocity and prolongs relaxation. However, acidosis is not the only metabolic change in fatigue which causes each of the above, and there are important aspects of muscle fatigue (e.g., the failure of Ca2+ release) which do not appear to be caused by acidosis.