Showing papers by "University of Jyväskylä published in 1978"

Skeletal muscle fibre types, enzyme activities and physical performance in young males and females.

Abstract: Differences in skeletal muscle characteristics, metabolic profiles and functional performance between males and females were investigated using young (15--24 yrs) male and female twins as subjects. The comparison included such variables as anthropometry, muscle strength, mechanical power, maximum oxygen uptake, electrical activation of muscle, muscle fibre composition (m. vastus lateralis), and activities of several skeletal muscle enzymes. The results disclosed the following primary differences between males and females: In the various functional tests the performance of females was from 61.1 to 84.6% of that in males; distribution of slow twitch fibres in m. vastus lateralis of the females (49.1 +/- 7.7%) was lower (p less than .05) than that of the males (55.9 +/- 11.9); activities of enzymes Ca2+ stimulated ATPase, CPK, phosphorylase and LDH1a leads to py were higher (p less than .05--0.1) in the males, whereas the distribution pattern of LDH-1 isozyme was higher (p less than .05) in the females. A pronounced difference between the two groups was a almost 100% longer rise time of isometric force in females. It is concluded that the males as compared to the females demonstrate higher aerobic and strength performance capacity, more efficient neuromotoric output during contraction, more slow twitch muscle fibres and more pronounced contractile and glycolytic profiles in the skeletal muscles.

Effect of isometric strength training on mechanical, electrical and metabolic aspects of muscle function

Abstract: Monozygous twin pairs (two female and four male) were used in a strength training study so that one member of each pair served as training subject (TS) and the other members as nonexercising controls (CS). TS trained four times a week for 12 weeks with maximal isometric knee extensions of the right leg. The parameters studied included muscle strength, endurance time, electromyographic activity, and activities of several key enzymes in nonoxidative and oxidative muscle metabolism. The results disclosed that in addition to a 20% increase in isometric knee extension strength in the trained leg of TS, an average increase of 11% was observed in strength of TS untrained leg. CS did not demonstrate any change in muscle strength. Training also included an improvement in the maintenance of a static load of 60% of the pretraining maximum. Increase in the maximum integrated electromyographic activity (IEMG) of the rectus femoris muscle occurred concomitantly with the knee extension strength. Training also caused reduction in the IEMG/tension ratio at submaximal loads indicating a more economical usage of the rectus femoris muscle. Muscle biopsies taken from the vastus lateralis muscle showed that the enzyme activities of MDH, SDH, and HK were higher, and LDH and CPK lower in the trained leg as compared to the nontrained control leg of TS or to the values of the untrained member of the twin pair. It is concluded that isometric strength training as used in the present study can cause increased recruitment of the available motor unit pool, improved efficiency at submaximal loads, and surprisingly also enchancement of the oxidative metabolism in the muscle.

Segmental contribution to forces in vertical jump

Abstract: Performance of a vertical jump was analyzed with respect to the contribution of the different body segments to the forces acting on the whole body center of gravity. Both cinematograph and force-platform techniques were employed. The data disclosed that the take-off velocity in vertical jumps was caused by the different components as follows: knee extension 56%, plantar flexion 22%, trunk extension 10%, arm swing 10%, and head swing 2%. However, the average take-off velocity of the total performance (3.03 m/s) was only 76% from the theoretical maximum calculated from the segmental analyses. Optimal timing of the segmental performances was calculated to increase this “efficiency” to 84%. Great variance were observed among individuals in the total performance despite the similarities in utilization of the performance of individual segments.

Force-time characteristics and fiber composition in human leg extensor muscles.

Abstract: Recording of the force-time (f-t) characteristics of muscular contraction expresses the rate at which tension is developed. To further understand the problems involved in force production during voluntary contraction, the f-t curve was registered during maximal voluntary isometric extension of both legs performed in the sitting position with the knee angle at 107 degrees. 38 athletes representing various sport events, five pairs of monozygous, and ten pairs of dizygous twins were used as subjects. The reference group consisted of eight normal men. The data disclosed that the time to produce certain force levels showed good trial-to-trial and satisfactory day-to-day reproducibility below tension levels of 0.9×P 0. At these force levels the time of tension development was positively (p<0.05) related to the per cent distribution of slow twitch fibers in the vastus lateralis muscle. This result is consistent with animal experiments concerning the mechanical characteristics of slow and fast muscles. In addition, it was observed that the athletic groups had f-t curves different from the other subjects. Genetic factors had only slight influence on the f-t measurement.

Aerobic performance capacity in athletes.

Abstract: Maximal oxygen uptake (max\(\dot V\)O2) in leg and arm work, succinate dehydrogenase activity (SDH) and percentage of slow twitch fibers (%ST fibers) in M. vastus lateralis (VL), M. gastrocnemius c.l. (GL) and M. deltoideus (D) were studied in 89 athletes practising 11 different sport events. It was found that maximal oxygen uptake correlated positively with %ST fibers and SDH activity in M. VL. The SDH activity and %ST fibers in M. VL correlated also with one another. The results suggest that oxidative capacity of the muscles is not the limiting factor for maximal oxygen uptake. The role of the oxidative capacity of the muscles might be important during submaximal work of long duration and when a relatively small muscle mass is activated (long-distance running). Max\(\dot V\)O2 might be the most important determinant of performance when large muscle mass is activated during maximal work of a duration from several minutes up to 1 h (cross-country skiing).

Exhaustive physical exercise and acid hydrolase activity in mouse skeletal muscle. A histochemical study.

Abstract: Adult, untrained NMRI mice were exhausted on a motor-driven treadmill by an intermittent-type running programme. Serial cryostate sections for the staining of NADH-tetrazolium reductase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and beta-glycerophosphatase activities and for making hematoxylin-eosin staining were cut from m. quadriceps femoris 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 15 days after physical exhaustion. A strong increase in the activities of beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase was observed 7 days after exhaustion and the activity changes, which were similar for the both glycosidases, were more prominent in the highly oxidative red compared to less oxidative white fibres. Activity granules were more numerous in the perinuclear than the interfibrillar area of red fibres. Spots were arranged like longitudinal chains between myofibrils. Activity in connective tissue was usually observed only in animals exhausted 3--7 days earlier. Simultaneous activity in fibres exceeded that in connective tissue. beta-Glycerophosphatase activity was not, by the method used, seen in histologically "healthy" or normal-looking fibres. In samples taken 2--5 days after exhaustion some degenerating and necrotic fibres were observed. Inflammatory reaction was also observed being at its strongest five days after loading when mononuclear cells were seen inside necrotic fibres. The number of regenerating muscle cells was most abundant 7 days after exhaustion. It is suggested that temporary hypoxia, which accompanies exhaustive physical exercise in skeletal muscle, upsets the energy metabolism and homeostasis of fibres and causes the observed histological and histochemical alterations, which possess features typical of both lethal and sublethal acute cell injury.

Acid hydrolase activity in red and white skeletal muscle of mice during a two-week period following exhausting exercise.

Abstract: The activities of β-glucuronidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, arylsulphatase, ribonuclease,p-nitrophenylphosphatase, and malate dehydrogenase together with protein content were assayed from representative mixed (m. rectus femoris), predominantly red (proximal heads ofm. vastus lateralis, m.v. medius andm. v. intermedius), and predominantly white (distal head ofm. vastus lateralis) muscle homogenates of mice during a two-week period following one single exposure to exhausting intermittent running on a treadmill. The activities of cathepsin D and β-glycerophosphatase were assayed from mixed muscle only. In all three muscle types, particularly in red muscle, the activities of β-glucuronidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, arylsulphatase, and ribonuclease progressively increased between one to five days after the exercise; thereafter the activities began to decrease, being near the control values 15 days after the exercise. In mixed muscle, cathepsin D activity increased. No corresponding changes were observed in the activities of acid phosphatases. The time course of the activity changes closely resembled that earlier found to be caused by ischaemia in rabbit muscles. It is tentatively concluded that the two treatments, exhaustive exercise and temporary ischaemia, cause similar cell injuries, and that the lysosomal system involved seems to function similarly in the post-stress recovery of the fibres from these injuries.

Biological changes in northern spruce forest soil after clear-cutting.

Abstract: In northern Finland, reforestation has frequently failed in clear-cut areas of coniferous forests. These failures prompted an investigation of the changes in the invertebrate fauna and in the bacterial populations of such forest soils after clear-cutting. Clear-cut areas in four neighbouring sites of various ages were sampled monthly, and the results were compared with those for samples taken simultaneously from a control site in an untreated spruce stand. After clear-cutting, the total biomass of the invertebrate fauna showed a strong increase, mainly due to an increase of the Enchytraeidae populations. The biomass reached its maximum after 7 yr and returned to the original level by year 13 after clear-cutting. Bacterial counts showed the same pattern as the faunal biomass; the numbers at first increased after clear-cutting, then regressed, and approached the control value after 13 yr. Cellulose degradation and soil respiration behaved in the same way. Bacterial numbers showed a significant seasonal variation at all sites, including the control; counts were maximal after the snow melt in June and decreased during the growing season.

Oxidative and lysosomal capacity in skeletal muscle of mice after endurance training of different intensities

Abstract: The activity of certain enzymes of energy metabolism (cytochrome c oxidase, citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase) and of lysosomes (beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosamindase, arylsuphatase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, acid phosphatase, and cathepsin D) was assayed from m. rectus femoris of mice trained 5 days per week, 1 hr per day for 4 weeks according to 4 different programmes: I. running speed 20 m/min, horizontal track, II. 25 m/min, horizontal track, III. 20 m/min 8 degrees uphill inclination, and IV. 25 m/min 8 degrees uphill inclination. Oxidative capacity increased and anaerobic capacity decreased without distinction between the different traning programmes. Of acid hydrolases assayed the activities of beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D were increased independently of training intensity. Simultaneous histochemical observations on beta-glucuronidase and arylsulphatase activities in the contralateral m. rectus femoris showed more intense staining in red as compared to white muscle fibres. It is suggested that training affected the red fibres and that the applied level of loading was probably too low to cause major involvement of white fibres.

Mechanical energy states during running

Abstract: Changes in total mechanical work and its partitioning into different energy states (kinetic, potential and rotational) during a step cycle of running were investigated on six well trained athletes who ran at the test speeds of 40, 60, 80, and 100% (9.3 +/- 0.3 m/s) of maximum. Cinematographic techniques were utilized to calculate the mechanical energy states as described by Norman et al. (1976), using a 13 segment mechanical model of a runner as the basis for the computations. The data showed that both the kinetic and rotational energy increased parabolically but the potential energy decreased linearly with increases in running velocity. The calculated power of the positive work phase increased quadratically with running speed. During the phase when the runner was in contact with the ground, the applied calculations gave similar increases for the positive and negative works, and the power ratio (Wneg/Wpos) stayed the same at all measured speeds. Therefore, it is likely that the method used to calculate the various mechanical energy states did not reflect accurately enough the physiological energy costs at higher running speeds. It may, however, be quite acceptable for estimating the mechanical energy states during walking and slow running, in which case the role of negative work is less and consequently the storage and utilization of elastic energy is small.

Characterization of the Proteinases Present in Germinating Seeds of Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris

Abstract: Methods were developed to determine proteinase activity in germinating seeds of Scots pine. The assays were based on the liberation of TCA-soluble peptides from haemoglobin at pH 3.7 and from casein at pH 5.4 and pH 7.0; the reaction products were determined by the Lowry method. — Endosperms separated from seeds at the time of rapid storage protein mobilization (seedling length between 20 and 50 mm) showed high proteinase activities in all three assays. Experiments with different inhibitors suggested that at least four enzymes were involved. One of the enzymes resembled mammalian and microbial pepsin-like acid proteinases: the pH optimum was 3.7 and the enzyme was inhibited by pepstatin.—The proteinase activities in the endosperms were high enough to account for the mobilization of the reserve proteins during germination. Moreover the activities at pH 3.7.5.4. and 7.0 in the endosperms were 10-, 25-, and 50-fold the corresponding activities in the growing seedlings (a “reference” tissue). Consequently, it seems that both the acid and neutral proteinases take part in the mobilization of storage proteins in the germinating seed.

An isomeric 19+ state of the $$\pi h_{{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}}^2 i_{1{3 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {3 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}} vg_{{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 2}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 2}} (j^{ - 2} )_{0^ + }$$ configuration in 85 210 At125 and the question of isospin dependence in the two-particle core polarization

Abstract: Usingα-particles of energies 35–51 MeV and in-beam conversion electron andγ-spectroscopy techniques, a 4.0±1.7 μs core-excited 19+ isomeric state in210At with ag-factor of 0.737±0.025 has been observed at an excitation energy of 4027.7 keV. The 19+ state is suggested to have the $$\pi h_{{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}}^2 i_{1{3 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {3 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}} vg_{{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}} (j^{ - 2} )_{0^ + }$$ configuration with maximum alignment of the angular momenta. The total two-particle core polarization due to theh 9/2 andi 13/2 protons and theg 9/2 neutron was found to be −68±20 keV as compared to −125±18 keV for the 29/2+ isomeric state of the $$\pi h_{{9 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {9 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}}^2 i_{1{3 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {3 2}} \right. \kern- ulldelimiterspace} 2}} v(j^{ - 2} )_{0^ + }$$ configuration in209At, which only differs by ag 9/2 neutron. This observation indicates an isospin effect in the two-particle core polarization, which is also supported by recent discoveries of core-excited high-spin levels in208Bi using (d, α)-reactions. Thus in the orbits concerned, a proton-proton pair seems to have a much larger quadrupole polarization effect than a neutron-proton pair.

Mercury and chlorinated hydrocarbons in the food chain of Lake Päijänne, Finland

Abstract: The sediments and various organisms in Lake Paijanne were examined for contaminants. The average mercury content of water plants was 9, of plankton 14, of sediment 114, of zoobenthic predators 83, of fish 332–1510 and of birds 240–13685 μg kg−1 (wet weight). The average PCB content of plants was 3, of plankton 21, of the zoobenthos 44, of fish 36-117 and of birds 219–13490 μg kg−1. The average ΔDDT content of plants was 0.5, of plankton 6, of the zoobenthos 14, of fish 7–42 and of birds 144-8262 μg kg−1. Regional differences in mercury content were most pronounced in sediment and fish. PCB concentration was highest near a town. ΔDDT was quite evenly distributed. Water plant species did not differ from each other, nor did the plankton fractions. The zoobenthic predators contained more chlorinated hydrocarbons than did the herbivores. There were clear differences between most species of fish and the chlorinated hydrocarbon content was highest in vendace. In adult birds levels of all residues were significantly higher than in juveniles. In most cases PCB content was positively correlated with ΔDDT and in birds PCB, ΔDDT and mercury levels were correlated. DDT residues occurred mostly as DDE, but in vendace the proportion of DDT was high. At most trophic levels, ΔDDT/PCB was 0.15-0.40 but in birds it reached 1–2.

Activity of acid hydrolases in skeletal muscle of untrained, trained and detrained mice of different ages.

Abstract: The activities of p-nitrophenylphosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from crude skeletal muscle homogenates of 4 and 7 months old mice were assayed after short-term intensive and long-term moderate training and after terminated training. In the older untrained mice the activity of the hydrolases was higher than in the younger mice. The level increased with training and this increase was far more pronounced in the older animals. Cessation of training for 7 and 21 days decreased this activity in the older animals but it was again increased 42 days later and close to the level observed in the trained mice. In young mice 3 days' terminated training increased the activity of the acid hydrolases above the level of the trained animals but after additional 4 and 11 days' terminated training the activity decreased to slightly below that of the trained mice. The changes were most prominent in the activity of beta-glucuronidase and to a lesser extent in that of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase while p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity was almost unaffected by training or terminated training. The effects of terminated training can be intepreted as representing altered catabolic processes in the turn-over of tissue components of skeletal muscle.

On the yrast two proton-two neutron hole states in208Po

Abstract: High-spin levels in208Po, populated in the208Pb(α,4n)-reaction, were studied usingα-particles in the energy region 41–51 MeV. The energies of levels above the 6+ level have an uncertainty of about 10 keV due to the fact that the 8+→6+ transition has not been observed so far, but this transition has previously been established to be converted neither in theK-shell nor in theL-shells. It was found that the yrast cascade ofγ-rays from a 19+ level at 5896+e keV feeds levels of lower spin which all can be explained as originating from two proton-two neutron hole configurations. In the higher part of the cascade it is mainly the neutron holes which change their configuration, while the lower part of the cascade is dominated by changes in the proton configuration. The yrast levels in the angular momentum regionJ=8–19 vary practically linearly with energy in the region 1.5–6 MeV. No isomeric traps were found above the 11− level at 2699+e keV.

Sulphate-reducing bacteria in paper machine waters and in suction roll perforations

Abstract: To define some aspects of the biological corrosion sulphate-reducing bacteria were studied in paper machine waters and in plugged perforations of a suction roll. The desulphuricants were most active on passive fiber recipients. Most bacteria found in fiber plugs taken from the perforations of suction rolls belonged to the genus Desulfovibrio. Desulphuricants were found mainly at the outer ends of plugged perforations, where corrosion of the roll metal is most evident.

Physical and chemical properties of skin in habitually trained and sedentary men

Abstract: A number of physical and chemical properties of skin were examined in a study of 29 habitually trained and 29 sedentary men Compared to the control group, the trained subjects had significantly higher values in the weights of skin samples of equal surface areas as well as the contents of hydroxyproline and nitrogen per skin surface area When measured by a diaphragm method in vivo, the 'elastic stiffness' (uncorrected for thickness) and 'elastic efficiency' (the recovery of the deformation energy) of skin were significantly higher in the trained men compared to those in the untrained men The results suggest that skin reflects the adaptation to habitual endurance training by increasing its mass and strengthening its structure The study did not, however, reveal any differences between physically active and sedentary men in changes due to biological ageing

Level structure of 170 Er observed in the decay of the 2.76 min 170 Ho

Abstract: TheΒ−-decay of the longer-lived170Ho isomer produced through the170Er(n, p)170Ho reaction has been investigated by using a versastile detector and coincidence equipment. The half-life andΒ−-decay energy were determined to beT1/2=2.76±0.05 min andQβ =3.85±0.15 MeV, respectively. In addition to the ground state band and some higher energy levels, the proposed level scheme of170Er contains 11 states between 1.0 and 1.6 MeV (6 new ones), which are connected mutually by previously unknown low-energy transitions. Spin and/or parity assignments based mainly on coincidence data and multipolarity determinations are suggested for most of these states. By using systematic considerations and the nuclear projection model calculations several bands withK≧2 can be assigned tentatively. As a side result the half-life of169Ho was determined to be 4.7 ±0.2 min.

Strain of employees in the machine industry in Finland.

Abstract: In order to investigate the strain of workers in different occupations of the Finnish machine industry, energy expenditure and heart rate of 190 men and 47 women employees were measured during their normal course of work Work was most strenuous in occupations in the early stages of production and in unskilled jobs The relative strain of semi-skilled workers was highest in the oldest age groups, over 45 years It is concluded that when systems for grading the strain of industrial work are constructed, the long-term effects of work and workers' characteristics such as age, sex, weight and physical fitness should be taken into consideration

Β-Glucuronidase activity in trained red and white skeletal muscle of mice

Abstract: We studied the effects of prolonged running exercise (5 days a week, 1.5 h per day at a speed of 17.6 m/min) on the activity of some acid hydrolases (Β-glucuronidase, Β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase and cathepsin D) and three enzymes of energy metabolism (cytochrome c oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase) in the distal and in the proximal, the predominantly white and red parts, respectively, of the vastus lateralis-muscle from mice. The acid hydrolase activity levels were 1.24–1.69 higher in untrained red muscle compared to untrained white muscle. The light training applied increased the activity of Β-glucuronidase in both red and white muscle. No other significant training effects were observed in the enzyme activities measured.

Lipid metabolism during exercise I: physiological and biochemical characterization of normal healthy male subjects in relation to their physical fitness.

Abstract: On the basis of maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot V\)O2 max) 18 normal, healthy men were divided into two groups of equal size: moderately trained subjects (MTR) each having \(\dot V\)O2 max below 65.0 ml·min−1·kg−1 body weight (54.0±8.3) and well trained subjects (WTR), whose \(\dot V\)O2 max exceeded 65.0 ml·min−1·kg−1 body weight (69.2±4.1). The WTR group had slightly (non significant, n.s.) higher percentage of slow twitch, oxidative (SO) fibers in M. vastus lateralis and higher (n.s.) activities of cytochrome c oxidase (CytOx), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH), and citrate synthase (CS), while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was lower (n.s.). In the MTR group only, the SO-%, and the activities of CytOx, SDH and HADH correlated positively with \(\dot V\)O2 max, and LDH negatively with \(\dot V\)O2 max. These correlations were not significant in the WTR group possibly because of the adaptations produced by training in this group. Multiple regression analysis was used to elucidate the best combination of variables to explain the variance in \(\dot V\)O2 max. The best model consisted of the sum of relative activities of oxidative muscle enzymes (CytOx, SDH, HADH, CS), muscle LDH activity, body fat content (% F) and lean body mass. This model explained 69% of the variance in \(\dot V\)O2 max; and of the individual variables % F was of utmost importance.