Quantitative estimation of anaerobic and oxidative energy metabolism and contraction characteristics in intact human skeletal muscle in response to electrical stimulation.

A set up for electrical stimulation of the human quadriceps femoris muscle and registration of tension is described. Normal values for the frequency-tension relations and relaxation time are presented. There was no relationship between contraction characteristics and fibre type distribution. Muscle tissue was sampled after electrical stimulation by percutaneous biopsy technique. Phosphocreatine (PCr) decreased during a 75 s isometric contraction from 76 mmol per kg dry muscle down to a mean value of 9 mmol. Lactate increased during the same time period from 5 mmol per kg dry muscle to 100 mmol. At end of contraction there was a rapid resynthesis of PCr with a half time of about 20 s while the lactate content decreased slowly. The relaxation time of the muscle was prolonged from 38 ms, in non-fatigued muscle, to 128 ms after 75 s of isometric contraction. The relaxation time was normalized after the contraction at the same rate as the resynthesis of PCr. It is proposed that the relationship between PCr and lactate of contracting muscle can be used as an index of glycolytic capacity and that the rate of resynthesis of PCr after contraction is a measure of oxidative capacity. Relaxation time measurements alone may be used as a non-invasive estimation of the oxidative capacity.