Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

During the last years the importance of muscle mitochondria, and mitochondrial function, not only for performance but also for health has been highlighted. The main function of the mitochondria is to produce ATP by oxidative phosphorylation (coupled respiration). In skeletal muscle a substantial part of the energy is lost in non-coupled reactions, it has been estimated that non-coupled respiration accounts for as much as 20-25% of the total energy expenditure. It is now almost 10 years since the discovery of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), but the functional role of UCP3 in non-coupled respiration is not completely understood. The aim of this thesis was to investigate mitochondrial efficiency (P/O ratio), mitochondrial fat oxidation, non-coupled respiration (state 4) and protein expression of UCP3 in response to exercise and training in human skeletal muscle.

In study I eight healthy subjects endurance trained for 6 weeks and 9 subjects performed one exercise session (75 min). In the cycling efficiency study II, and in the study on mitochondrial lipid oxidation III, 9 healthy trained and 9 healthy untrained men participated. In study IV mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was studied in 9 elite athletes after extreme exercise, 24 hours of cycling, running and paddling.

Endurance training increased whole body oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) by 24% and muscle citrate synthase (CS) activity (marker of mitochondrial volume) by 47% (P< 0.05), but non-coupled respiration and UCP3 adjusted for mitochondrial volume were reduced (P< 0.05). One session of exercise did not affect non-coupled respiration or UCP3.

Cycling efficiency (expressed as work efficiency) was inversely related to protein expression of UCP3 (r= 0.57) and correlated to type 1 fibers (r= 0.58). Work efficiency was not influenced by training status or correlated to mitochondrial efficiency. UCP3 was 52% higher in the untrained men (P< 0.05). Mitochondrial capacity for fat oxidation was not influenced by training status, but related to fiber type composition. The hypothesis that mitochondrial fat oxidation is related to whole body lipid oxidation during low-intensity exercise was confirmed (r= 0.62).

Mitochondrial capacity for fat oxidation increased after 24 hours of exercise, whereas mitochondrial efficiency (P/O ratio) decreased. P/O ratio remained reduced also after 28 hours of recovery. Formation of ROS by isolated mitochondria increased after exercise. Non-coupled respiration (state 4), however, decreased and UCP3 tended to be reduced after recovery from ultra-endurance exercise (P= 0.07).

In conclusion: UCP3 does not follow exercise induced mitochondrial biogenesis. UCP3 is reduced by endurance training and lower in trained men compared with untrained men. Non-coupled respiration, measured in isolated mitochondria was reduced by endurance training and reduced after recovery from ultra-endurance exercise, but similar in trained and untrained men. In these studies UCP3 and non-coupled respiration follow the same pattern but are not correlated. Further studies are needed to understand the complex role of UCP3 in skeletal muscle metabolism.