Elsevier

Metabolism

Volume 48, Issue 11, November 1999, Pages 1409-1413
Metabolism

Functional electrical stimulation exercise increases GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 in paralyzed skeletal muscle

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0026-0495(99)90151-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The study purpose was to determine the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES)-leg cycle ergometer training (30 minutes on 3 d/wk for 8 weeks) on the GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 content of paralyzed skeletal muscle. Biopsy samples of vastus lateralis muscle were obtained pre- and post-training from five individuals with motor-complete spinal cord injury ([SCI] four men and one woman aged 31 to 50 years, 3 to 25 years postinjury involving C5-T8. Western in blot analysis indicated that GLUT-1 increased by 52% and GLUT-4 increased by 72% with training (P < .05). This coincided with an increase in the muscle oxidative capacity as indicated by a 56% increase in citrate synthase (CS) activity (P < .05) and an improvement in the insulin sensitivity index as determined from oral glucose tolerance tests (P < .05). It is concluded that FES endurance training is effective to increase glucose transporter protein levels in paralyzed skeletal muscle of individuals with SCI.

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    Supported by a grant from the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation, and Therapeutic Alliance (Fairborn, OH).

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