Coincident thresholds in intracellular phosphorylation potential and pH during progressive exercise.

Dynamic changes in intracellular phosphocreatine (PCr), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and pH in human forearm muscle were studied from rest through heavy exercise by means of a ramp exercise protocol and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Eighteen healthy volunteers performed an isotonic wrist flexion exercise of repeated contractions at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. Work rate was increased continuously (ramped) at approximately 0.13 W each minute from 0.34 to 1.5 W or until fatigue. Pi/PCr was used as an estimate of the cellular phosphorylation potential of the muscle. Exercise caused a progressive increase in Pi/PCr with an initial slow and later fast component. The transition between these components was distinct and corresponded to the onset of pH decline in all subjects. These changes in Pi/PCr and pH were best fit (P less than 0.05) by a piecewise linear regression model with a break point or threshold. Repeated ramp testing of six subjects showed that the threshold was reproducible (r = 0.98). The results of this study demonstrate the existence of an intracellular metabolic threshold and suggest that indirect threshold measures (lactate and ventilatory thresholds) may reflect events at the cellular level.