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BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine logoLink to BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
. 2015 Nov 25;1(1):e000062. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000062

Influence of muscle fibre composition on muscle oxygenation during maximal running

Tomoharu Kitada 1, Shuichi Machida 1, Hisashi Naito 1
PMCID: PMC5117045  PMID: 27900139

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the relationship between muscle oxygenation (specifically, the levels of oxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin [oxyHb/Mb]) during maximal running and muscle fibre composition, and to determine whether muscle fibre composition can be non-invasively estimated from oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running.

Methods

Eight male runners (Inline graphic, 60.9± 4.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) performed an incremental running test on a treadmill. OxyHb/Mb levels of the vastus lateralis during maximal running were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Muscle fibre composition of the vastus lateralis was determined from muscle biopsy samples from the same region measured by NIRS, and the fibre types were classified as type I, type IIa, or type IIb fibres using traditional pH-sensitive ATPase staining. Type I and type IIa fibres together were defined as oxidative fibres.

Results

OxyHb/Mb levels during running were lowest at exhaustion in all participants. OxyHb/Mb levels at exhaustion were positively correlated with the percentages of type I fibres (r=0.755, p<0.05) and oxidative fibres (r=0.944, p<0.01).

Conclusions

We conclude that higher oxyHb/Mb levels at exhaustion during maximal running are correlated with a higher percentage of oxidative fibres, indicating the potential importance of oxidative fibres in the maintenance of oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running. Additionally, muscle fibre composition could be non-invasively estimated from oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running tests in runners.

Keywords: Running, Biopsy, Muscle metabolism, Athlete

What are the new findings?

  • Muscle fibre composition of the vastus lateralis may be non-invasively estimated from the minimum levels of oxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin in this muscle during a maximal incremental running test.

Introduction

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive method for measuring oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of haemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) within the microvasculature; it can be used to evaluate muscle oxygenation in local tissue.1 2 Typically, the level of oxygenated Hb and Mb (oxyHb/Mb) is influenced by blood flow; it decreases when the O2 supply is lower than O2 consumption, for example, during high-intensity exercise. Furthermore, the oxyHb/Mb level decreases when muscle activity and lactate accumulation increase in response to exercise intensity, suggesting that increasing exercise intensity involves the recruitment of organised fast-twitch fibres and enhanced O2 dissociation following lactic acidosis.3–5 If slow-twitch oxidative (type I) fibres and fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (type IIa) fibres are superior to fast-twitch glycolytic (type IIb) fibres in terms of O2 supply capacity, and if fast-glycolytic fibres lead to decreased oxyHb/Mb levels, changes in oxyHb/Mb levels may be influenced by muscle fibre composition. However, the relationship between oxyHb/Mb levels and muscle fibre composition remains unclear.

To the best of our knowledge, NIRS studies investigating the direct relationship between muscle oxygenation and muscle fibre composition have been limited to repeated isometric plantarflexion exercises at submaximal intensity.6 However, in order to apply the findings of such research to a competitive sport, that is, to improve sports performance, it is important to investigate this relationship during dynamic exercises, such as running at maximal intensity. In addition, while the gastrocnemius was targeted in the previous study,6 muscle biopsy sampling from the vastus lateralis is typically used for evaluating sport aptitude.

We hypothesised that muscle fibre composition of the vastus lateralis may be correlated with oxyHb/Mb levels; thus, the present study aimed to establish a new method for the non-invasive evaluation of sport aptitude by estimating muscle fibre composition from oxyHb/Mb levels. Accordingly, we investigated the relationship between oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running and muscle fibre composition and examined whether muscle fibre composition of the vastus lateralis could be non-invasively estimated from the oxyHb/Mb levels. We further hypothesised that a higher percentage of oxidative fibres would lead to a greater potential to maintain oxyHb/Mb levels.

Methods

Subjects

Eight college-age male middle-distance runners participated in this study (table 1). Prior to participation, all participants were informed of the potential risks and discomforts associated with the experiment, and all participants provided written informed consent. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Juntendo University.

Table 1.

Physical and physiological characteristics of the participants (n=8)

Characteristic Mean±SD
Age, years 20.0±1.2
Height, cm 173.4±7.1
Weight, kg 61.3±5.5
Lean body mass, kg 54.4±5.9
Fat, % 11.4±3.0
Skinfold thickness of vastus lateralis, mm 3.1±0.6
Inline graphic, mL.kg−1.min−1 60.9±4.6
Type I fibres, % 37.5±6.2
Type IIa fibres, % 45.2±3.1
Type IIb fibres, % 17.4±4.4
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V̇O2max, maximal oxygen uptake.

Maximal incremental running test

All participants performed an incremental running test on a treadmill. After a 3 min rest in a standing position, the run was initiated at 9 km/h for 3 min, followed by an increase in speed of 1 km/h per min until exhaustion. During the test, respiratory gas-exchange values were measured using an Aeromonitor (AE-300S; Minato Medical Science, Japan) to determine O2 uptake (Inline graphic), and maximal O2 uptake (Inline graphic) was determined as the highest 30 s average Inline graphic value. ECG monitoring (DS-7210, Fukuda Denshi, Japan) was continuously performed during the running test.

Muscle oxygenation

A portable continuous wave NIRS device (Pocket NIRS Duo; Hamamatsu Photonics KK, Japan), consisting of a main unit and two probes, was used to measure oxygenation of the vastus lateralis during the incremental running test. Only one of the two probes was used for all measurements. The measured data were transmitted to a personal computer via a wireless system.7 The principles of the measurement have been fully described elsewhere.1 Light-emitting diodes of three different wavelengths (735, 810 and 850 nm) were used in the probe, which was moulded in elastic black silicone rubber. Based on the modified Beer-Lambert law,8 concentration changes in oxygenated Hb and Mb (oxyHb/Mb), deoxygenated Hb and Mb (deoxyHb/Mb), and the sum of these two (totalHb/Mb), were calculated by transforming these wavelengths and were expressed in arbitrary units (AU). The optrode separation distance was 3 cm, corresponding to a penetration depth of approximately 1.5 cm.5 9 Changes in the NIRS signal are reported as Hb/Mb because the signal does not distinguish between Hb and Mb.

The probe was secured on the skin surface with a customised seal, covered by polychloroprene boarding to prevent contamination from ambient light, and secured with elastic tape (Multipore, 3M Japan, Japan) to prevent downward sliding without restricting the range of motion or blood flow during the running test. The probe was placed on the skin over the left vastus lateralis muscle, 15 cm from the knee, parallel to the major axis of the thigh, and 3–5 cm outward from the thigh. In order to determine the characteristics of the muscle region, ultrasonography (SSD-900; Hitachi Aloka Medical, Japan) was used to observe the elevated portion of the muscle belly and to simultaneously measure the skinfold thickness. NIRS parameters are influenced by the light path length.2 10 Therefore, to enable a comparison between participants, the value was quantified by correcting for vastus lateralis skinfold thickness using the formula described by Niwayama, et al.11 While participants were at rest in the supine position for approximately 30 min, NIRS signals were monitored on a personal computer until a steady state was established, at which time the signal was set at ‘zero’. Then, NIRS signals were measured during running until exhaustion. NIRS data were sampled at 10 Hz.

Muscle fibre composition

A muscle biopsy sample was taken with a 14G×75 mm needle (ONECUT; TSK Laboratory, Japan) from the left vastus lateralis at the same region that was measured by NIRS on a different day. After uniform orientation of the muscle fibre bundle in embedding medium (OCT compound; Tissue-Tek, Sakura Finetek USA, Inc, USA) under a stereomicroscope, the muscle sample was immediately frozen with liquid nitrogen and stored at –80°C. Transverse sections (10 μm thick) were obtained at –20°C using cryostat (LEICA CM3050S; Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, Germany). After preincubations at pH 4.3 and 4.61, the muscle samples were stained according to the ATPase method to determine muscle fibre composition;12 fibres were classified as type I, type IIa and type IIb. The type I and type IIa fibres together were defined as oxidative fibres. For each participant, approximately 200 fibres were assessed by a computerised planimetry system and each fibre type was expressed as a percentage of the total number counted.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed for all the NIRS parameters (SPSS Statistics for Windows, V.17.0; SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois, USA). Data are presented as mean±SD. The relationship between muscle fibre composition and oxyHb/Mb level was analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

Inline graphic during the incremental running test was 60.9±4.6 mL/kg per min. Figure 1 shows the changes in oxyHb/Mb levels of the vastus lateralis from supine rest (zero) to exhaustion in all participants during the incremental running test. The oxyHb/Mb level decreased with exercise intensity (running speed) and reached a minimum value (–0.383±0.061 AU) at exhaustion in all participants. Similarly, deoxyHb/Mb levels increased with exercise intensity and reached a maximum value (0.433±0.091 AU) at exhaustion, and totalHb/Mb at exhaustion was 0.049±0.107 AU. The mean percentages of type I, type IIa and type IIb fibres in the vastus lateralis from all participants were 37.5±6.2%, 45.2±3.1% and 17.4±4.4%, respectively. The percentage of type I fibres (r=0.755, p<0.05; figure 2A) and oxidative fibres (r=0.944, p<0.01; figure 2B) was positively correlated with the minimum oxyHb/Mb level of the vastus lateralis. The percentages of type I fibres (Y1) and oxidative fibres (Y2) obtained from oxyHb/Mb levels (X) during maximal running were expressed as the following linear regression equation: Y1=76.702×X−66.864 (r2=0.57) and Y2=68.256×−108.79 (r2=0.89), respectively.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Changes in the levels of oxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin (oxyHb/Mb) of the vastus lateralis from supine rest (zero) to exhaustion in all participants during the incremental running test (n=8). The data plot legend (right) indicates the percentages of oxidative (types I and IIa) fibres of each participant.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Relationship between minimum levels of oxygenated haemoglobin and myoglobin (oxyHb/Mb) of the vastus lateralis during maximal running (X) and the percentages of (A) type I fibres (Y1) and (B) oxidative (types I and IIa) fibres (Y2) (n=8).

Discussion

In this study, we investigated the relationship between oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running and muscle fibre composition, using NIRS and muscle biopsy from the vastus lateralis muscle. We found a significant correlation between minimum oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running and muscle fibre composition; moreover, we noted that a higher percentage of type I and oxidative fibres led to maintenance of higher levels of oxyHb/Mb at exhaustion during the maximal running test.

In this regard, we hypothesised that the difference in O2 delivery capacity according to the characteristics of each muscle fibre type might influence the minimum oxyHb/Mb levels at exhaustion. In other words, the muscle fibre types were expected to affect the potential to maintain oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running. Oxidative fibres have greater capillary density as well as greater vascular conductance and O2 delivery.13–16 In fact, Costes et al17 reported that muscle saturation and blood lactate levels during cycling exercise at mild-to-hard intensity improved following the induction of increased capillarisation and oxidative enzyme capacity with 4 weeks of endurance training, suggesting the adaptability of O2 delivery to the O2 demand. Furthermore, muscle O2 saturation has been reported to be significantly lower in healthy older participants;18 moreover, in patients with heart failure, oxyHb/Mb has been demonstrated to be lower,19 along with reduced blood flow and limited O2 delivery,20 21 as compared with younger and normal participants. These results indicate that a decrease in oxyHb/Mb levels is influenced by a restriction in O2 delivery capacity. Therefore, our results—demonstrating that a higher percentage of type I and oxidative fibres was correlated with higher oxyHb/Mb levels at exhaustion during maximal running—provide evidence for previous results. In contrast, glycolytic muscle fibres show lower metabolic efficiency22 23 and greater O2 extraction,24 25 as compared with oxidative fibres. Additionally, the increased recruitment of fast-twitch fibres at high intensity26 27 has been reported to contribute to decreased oxyHb/Mb levels28 and decreased muscle oxygenation29 accompanied by increased blood lactate concentrations; however, these studies did not involve muscle biopsies. Nioka et al30 reported that the level of oxyHb/Mb was lower in the Wingate test than in an aerobic exercise test; although no muscle biopsy was performed, they hypothesised that their results of lowered muscle oxygenation were due to the contribution of organised type IIb muscle fibres. Our results confirm this hypothesis. Furthermore, we noted that, at maximal intensity, muscle fibre composition correlated with oxyHb/Mb level; moreover, the relationship was strengthened by the inclusion of type IIa fibres as oxidative fibres, as compared with the inclusion of type I fibres only. This indicated that the recruitment of type IIb fibres occurs at high intensity,31 and that the oxyHb/Mb level, as evaluated by NIRS, could discriminate the lower blood flow to type IIb fibres.14 32 33

In this study, the relationship between oxyHb/Mb levels and muscle fibre composition was strong (r2=0.57–0.89). The values were sufficient for accurate estimation. Therefore, we consider that muscle fibre composition can be non-invasively estimated from oxyHb/Mb levels during the maximal running test. Previous studies have attempted to assess muscle fibre composition in humans, using non-invasive methods. In these studies, the relaxation time derived from MRI,34 35 muscle pH or PCr/ATP, Pi/ATP, (PCr+Pi)/ATP ratio obtained by phosphorus-31 nuclear MR (31P-NMR) spectroscopy36 37 and carnosine content measured by proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS),38 were correlated to the percentage of type I or type II fibres. However, these methods need an individual with specific expertise and experience, as well as the technology for using these machines, both of which are not easy available. In comparison, the NIRS method is not only non-invasive but also uses a compact device and is inexpensive. Moreover, the estimation accuracy of muscle fibre composition in our method (type I fibres only: 57%, oxidative fibres: 89%) was equivalent or higher than those reported in several previous studies (18–86%).34–38 Therefore, this new, non-invasive method may be useful for accurately estimating muscle fibre composition.

This study has certain limitations. First, we did not investigate differences in the degrees of muscle capillarisation, oxidative enzyme capacity or lactic acidosis according to muscle fibre composition. Therefore, further studies are warranted to determine which specific characteristics of oxidative fibres affect changes in oxyHb/Mb levels. Furthermore, the sample size in this study was small (n=8), although middle-distance runners were selected to provide an adequately long maximal running test and to ensure similar performance levels among the participants. Thus, a future study should investigate the relationship between the oxyHb/Mb level and muscle fibre composition using a larger sample size with a wider distribution range of muscle fibre composition and physiological characteristics.

Conclusion

We conclude that higher oxyHb/Mb levels at exhaustion during maximal running correlated with a higher percentage of oxidative fibres, indicating the potential importance of oxidative fibres in the maintenance of oxyHb/Mb levels during maximal running; moreover, muscle fibre composition of the vastus lateralis could be non-invasively estimated from oxyHb/Mb levels in this muscle during maximal running.

Footnotes

Competing interests: None declared.

Patient consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: The Ethics Committee of Juntendo University.

Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.

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