Malleability of human skeletal muscle Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump with short-term training.

To investigate the hypothesis that short-term submaximal training would result in changes in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase content, activity, and isoform distribution in skeletal muscle, seven healthy, untrained men [peak aerobic power (peak oxygen consumption; Vo(2 peak)) = 45.6 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (SE 5.4)] cycled for 2 h/day at 60-65% Vo(2 peak) for 6 days. Muscle tissue, sampled from the vastus lateralis before training (0 days) and after 3 and 6 days of training and analyzed for Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase content, as assessed by the vanadate facilitated [(3)H]ouabain-binding technique, was increased (P < 0.05) at 3 days (294 +/- 8.6 pmol/g wet wt) and 6 days (308 +/- 15 pmol/g wet wt) of training compared with 0 days (272 +/- 9.7 pmol/g wet wt). Maximal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity as evaluated by the 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase assay was increased (P < 0.05) by 6 days (53.4 +/- 5.9 nmol x h(-1) x mg protein(-1)) but not by 3 days (35.9 +/- 4.5 nmol x h(-1) x mg protein(-1)) compared with 0 days (37.8 +/- 3.7 nmol x h(-1) x mg protein(-1)) of training. Relative isoform distribution, measured by Western blot techniques, indicated increases (P < 0.05) in alpha(2)-content by 3 days and beta(1)-content by 6 days of training. These results indicate that prolonged aerobic exercise represents a potent stimulus for the rapid adaptation of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase content, isoform, and activity characteristics.