GOKYO KHUMBU/AMA DABLAM TREK 2012: Effects of physical training and high-altitude exposure on oxidative metabolism, muscle composition, and metabolic cost of walking in women

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of moderate-intensity training at low and high altitude on V ̇O2 and Q ̇aO2 kinetics and on myosin heavy-chain expression (MyHC) in seven women (36.3 yy ± 7.1; 65.8 kg ± 11.7; 165 cm ± 8) who participated in two 12-14-day trekking expeditions at low (598 m) and high altitude (4132 m) separated by 4 months of recovery. METHODS: Breath-by-breath V ̇O2 and beat-by-beat Q ̇aO2 at the onset of moderate-intensity cycling exercise and energy cost of walking (Cw) were assessed before and after trekkings. MyHC expression of vastus lateralis was evaluated before and after low-altitude and after high-altitude trekking; muscle fiber high-resolution respirography was performed at the beginning of the study and after high-altitude trekking. RESULTS: Mean response time of V ̇O2 kinetics was faster (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001) and oxygen deficit was smaller (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0004) after low- and high-altitude trekking, whereas Q ̇aO2 kinetics and Cw did not change. Percentages of slow and fast isoforms of MyHC and mitochondrial mass were not affected by low- and high-altitude training. After training altitude, muscle fiber ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration was decreased as compared with the control condition (P = 0.016), whereas leak respiration was increased (P = 0.031), leading to a significant increase in the respiratory control ratio (P = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Although training did not significantly modify muscle phenotype, it induced beneficial adaptations of the oxygen transport-utilization systems witnessed by faster V ̇O2 kinetics at exercise onset.