Abstract

The effect of exercise on the level of glycogen in skeletal muscle has been studied almost exclusively in the hind-leg muscles of the rat and in human leg muscles. The aim of this study was to determine glycogen concentration in rat skeletal muscles from different body regions following a prolonged exercise. Glycogen was determined in the following muscles: soleus, plantaris, red and white portions of vastus lateralis, rectus abdominis, sternocleidomastoideus, masseter, levator auricularis and errector spinae. The determinations were carried out at rest, after 30 min-exercise and after an exercise till exhaustion. The rats were exercised on a treadmill (incline +10 degrees, speed 1200 m/h). It has been found that 30 min-exercise resulted in a reduction of the glycogen level in m. soleus, plantaris, and red vastus. Exercise till exhaustion reduced the level of glycogen in all muscles studied except the sternocleidomastoideus and the levator auricularis. It was concluded that long-term exercise led to a greater depletion of muscle glycogen stores than it was thought before. Verf.-Referat