Fiber type-specific expression of GLUT4 in human skeletal muscle: Influence of exercise training

Abstract

The fiber type-specific expression of skeletal muscle GLUT4 and the effect of 2 weeks of low-intensity training were investigated in 8 young untrained male subjects. Single muscle fibers were dissected from a vastus lateralis biopsy sample. Based on myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression, fibers were pooled into 3 groups (MHC I, MHC IIA, and MHC IIX), and the GLUT4 content of 15-40 pooled fibers was determined using SDSPAGE and immunological detection. The GLUT4 content in pooled muscle fibers expressing MHC I was ~20% higher (P < 0.05) than that in muscle fibers expressing MHC IIA or MHC IIX. No difference in GLUT4 could be detected between fibers expressing MHC IIA or MHC IIX. Two weeks of ex..