Biomedical subjects

H Claassen

Publications and source records attributed to H Claassen.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Structural changes in skeletal muscle tissue with heavy-resistance exercise.

Muscle strength, muscle cross-sectional area, fiber size, fiber type distribution, capillarity, and mitochondrial volume were estimated before and after 6 weeks of heavy-resistance exercise. Isokinetic torque production of the knee extensor muscles increased by a total of 17.6%, mainly during the first half of the training period. The cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis muscle increased by 8.4%, mainly during the second half of the training period. Morphometrically determined fiber size, fiber type distribution, and capillarity from biopsies of vastus lateralis did not change significantly with training. Likewise, the surface densities of inner and outer mitochondrial membranes as well as the volume density of myofibrils remained unchanged. In contrast, the volume density of mitochondria decreased by 9.6%. However, due to the increase in total muscle volume, the calculated absolute volume of mitochondria remained constant, whereas the absolute volume of myofibrils increased by 10%. It is concluded that strength training of short duration in previously untrained young male subjects does not change the ultrastructural composition of mitochondria and that the apparent dilution of mitochondria can quantitatively be accounted for by the increase in myofibrillar volume.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1986

Physiological profile of world-class high-altitude climbers.

The functional characteristics of six world-class high-altitude mountaineers were assessed 2-12 mo after the last high-altitude climb. Each climber on one or several occasions had reached altitudes of 8,500 m or above without supplementary O2. Static and dynamic lung volumes and right and left echocardiographic measurements were found to be within normal limits of sedentary controls (SC). Muscle fiber distribution was 70% type I, 22% type IIa, and 7% type IIb. Mean muscle fiber cross-sectional area was significantly smaller than that of SC (-15%) and of long-distance runners (LDR, -51%). The number of capillaries per unit cross-sectional area was significantly greater than that of SC (+ 40%). Total mitochondrial volume was not significantly different from that of SC, but its subsarcolemmal component was equal to that of LDR. Average maximal O2 consumption was 60 +/- 6 ml X kg-1 X min-1, which is between the values of SC and LDR. Average maximal anaerobic power was 28 +/- 2.5 W X kg-1, which is equal to that of SC and 40% lower that that of competitive high jumpers. All subjects were characterized by resting hyperventilation both in normoxia and in moderate (inspired O2 partial pressure = 77 Torr) hypoxia resulting in higher oxyhemoglobin saturation levels in hypoxia. The ventilatory response to four tidal volumes of pure O2 was similar to that of SC. It is concluded that elite high-altitude climbers do not have physiological adaptations to high altitude that justify their unique performance.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1986

Capillarity and mitochondrial distribution in rat myocardium following exercise training.

Rats were subjected to a laddermill running programme either once per week for 6 weeks, or daily for 6 weeks. Heart mass and maximal oxygen consumption rate increased relative to controls and with the frequency of the running programme. Mitochondrial distribution, measured in seven regions within fibres, was similar in all hearts, with a peak volume density of 0.42 +/- 0.01 occurring 4-5 microns from the centre of a capillary. Capillary density decreased with increasing heart mass, but total capillary length and capillary-to-fibre ratio were constant. Thus the higher metabolic demands of the running programmes did not alter the volume density or distribution of mitochondria, despite significant increases in heart mass and decreases in capillarity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1985

Influences of endurance training on the ultrastructural composition of the different muscle fiber types in humans.

To investigate changes in the ultrastructure of the different muscle fiber types induced by endurance training ten sedentary subjects (five women and five men) were exercised on bicycle ergometers 5 times a week for 30 min. After 6 weeks of training there were significant changes in VO2max (+14%), in the percentage of type I (+12%) and type IIB fibers (-24%) as well as in the volume densities of mitochondria. The latter increased 35% in type I, 55% in type IIA and 35% in type IIB fibers. The relative increase in subsarcolemmal mitochondria was larger than in interfibrillar mitochondria in all fiber types. There was also a significant increase in the volume density of intracellular lipid in type II fibres. It is concluded that high intensity endurance training leads to an enhancement of the oxidative capacity in all muscle fiber types.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Transfer effects in endurance exercise. Adaptations in trained and untrained muscles.

The effects of 8 weeks of bicycle endurance training (5 X /week for 30 min) on maximal oxygen uptake capacity (VO2max) during arm and leg ergometry, and on the ultrastructure of an untrained arm muscle (m. deltoideus), and a trained leg muscle (m. vastus lateralis) were studied. With the training, leg-VO2max for bicycling increased by +13%, while the capillary per fiber ratio and the volume density of mitochondria in m. vastus lateralis increased by +15% and +40%, respectively. In contrast, the untrained m. deltoideus showed an unchanged capillary per fiber ratio and a decreased mitochondrial volume density (-17%). Despite this decrease of mitochondrial volume arm-VO2max increased by +9%. It seems unlikely that the observed discrepancy can be explained by cardiovascular adaptations, since arm cranking did not fully tax the cardiovascular system (arm-VO2max/leg-VO2max: 0.74 and 0.71 before and after training, respectively). Thus neither cardiovascular adaptations nor local structural changes in the untrained muscles could explain the increased arm-VO2max. However, the enhanced capacity for lactate clearance after endurance training could be sufficient to account for the larger VO2max during arm cranking. We propose that an increased net oxidation of lactate might be responsible for the increased arm-VO2max found after bicycle endurance training.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Endurance training in humans: aerobic capacity and structure of skeletal muscle.

The adaptation of muscle structure, power output, and mass-specific rate of maximal O2 consumption (VO2max/Mb) with endurance training on bicycle ergometers was studied for five male and five female subjects. Biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle and VO2max determinations were made at the start and end of 6 wk of training. The power output maintained on the ergometer daily for 30 min was adjusted to achieve a heart rate exceeding 85% of the maximum for two-thirds of the training session. It is proposed that the observed preferential proliferation of subsarcolemmal vs. interfibrillar mitochondria and the increase in intracellular lipid deposits are two possible mechanisms by which muscle cells adapt to an increased use of fat as a fuel. The relative increase of VO2max/Mb (14%) with training was found to be smaller by more than twofold than the relative increase in maximal maintained power (33%) and the relative change in the volume density of total mitochondria (+40%). However, the calculated VO2 required at an efficiency of 0.25 to produce the observed mass-specific increase in maximal maintained power matched the actual increase in VO2max/Mb (8.0 and 6.5 ml O2 X min-1 X kg-1, respectively). These results indicate that despite disparate relative changes the absolute change in aerobic capacity at the local level (maintained power) can account for the increase in aerobic capacity observed at the general level (VO2max).

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1985

The lower-extremity musculature in chronic symptomatic instability of the anterior cruciate ligament.

We studied the musculature of the lower extremity in forty-one patients with chronic symptomatic instability of the anterior cruciate ligament. Computed tomographic and clinical measurements of the limb were taken at levels fifteen and twenty-five centimeters proximal to the medial joint line and ten centimeters distal to it. Biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis of both lower extremities were analyzed by histochemistry and electron microscopy. Computed tomography revealed a decrease in the muscle square area of the affected thigh of 8 per cent as compared with the control lower extremity. There was quadriceps atrophy of 10 per cent and hamstrings atrophy of only 4 per cent. The atrophy of the vastus medialis was significantly greater than that of the entire quadriceps. Histochemistry revealed a similar decrease in fiber size for all fiber types, and hence no shift in fiber type. Electron microscopy showed an increase in intracellular fat but no change in mitochondrial volume density or capillarization.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Scaling mitochondrial volume in heart to body mass.

The heart mass was measured and the volume density of mitochondria, VV(mt,f), morphometrically estimated in 11 mammalian species ranging from shrew (3 g) to cattle (920 kg). The mass or the volume of the heart muscle (Vh) was found to scale as Mb0 .970 whereas VV(mt,f) scaled as Mb-0.044. Hence, the total volume of mitochondria in heart, V(mt), scaled as Mb0 .927 (V(mt) = VV(mt,f) x Vh). The volume of heart mitochondria was found to scale disproportionately to VO2max ( Mb0 .75) but in proportion to resting cardiac work rate ( Mb0 .9).

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Design of the mammalian respiratory system. VI Distribution of mitochondria and capillaries in various muscles.

The variability of structures supporting tissue oxygen transport (capillaries) and oxygen consumption (mitochondria) was analyzed in skeletal muscles of wildebeest and dik-dik. Regional differences in mitochondria and capillary densities within individual muscles were found for M. semitendinosus (twofold) but not for M. longissimus dorsi and diaphragm. Comparing 20 different muscles from both animals, the volume density of mitochondria in the muscle fibers [Vv(mt,f)] was significantly higher in diaphragm (10-12%) and varied considerably (1-6%) in the other muscles. The relation between Vv(mt,f) and the number of capillaries per cross-sectional fiber area NA(c,f) showed great variability. In glycolytic fibers Vv(mt,f) was typically low (1%) whereas in oxidative fibers it ranged from 5-15%. No systematic trend was found for the packing of cristae in subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria from both types of fibers in large and small animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

The lung of shrews: morphometric estimation of diffusion capacity.

The lungs of 16 shrews from 8 species (Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens, Suncus etruscus, Crocidura russula, C. juvenetae, C. poensis, C. flavescens, C. giffardi) ranging in body weight from 2.2 to 100 g were studied by morphometry in order to compare the structural diffusion capacity for oxygen. DL02, with the oxygen consumption, VO2, measured on the same animals. VO2 was determined by short term measurements using a respirometer. DLO2 was estimated morphometrically. Both parameters demonstrated good coincidence in their allometric behaviour, establishing further progress in structure-function relationship in the respiratory apparatus. Whereas VO2 as well as DLO2 of shrews with a body weight W greater than 5 g follow the same allometric function established for mammals in general, the values for shrews with W less than 5 g exhibit significantly higher values. It appears that the pulmonary gas exchange parenchyma of these smallest mammals is well suited to supply the organism with the comparatively high levels of O2 required by the high metabolic rates, exhibiting a structural adaptation of the lung to higher VO2.

Animals↗

PubMed1978