Effects of exercise on lactate transport into mouse skeletal muscles.

Skeletal muscle lactate transport was investigated in vitro in isolated fast-twitch (EDL) and slow-twitch soleus (Sol) skeletal muscles from control and exercised mice. Exercise (23 m/min, 8% grade) reduced muscle glycogen by 37% in EDL (p < 0.05) and by 35% in Sol muscles (p < 0.05). Lactate transport measurements (45 sec) were performed after 60 min of exercise in intact EDL and Sol muscles in vitro, at differing pH (6.5 and 7.4) and differing lactate concentrations (4 and 30 mM). Lactate transport was observed to be greater in Sol than in EDL (p < 0.05). In the exercised muscles there was a small but significant increase in lactate transport (p < 0.05). Lactate transport was greater when exogenous lactate concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) and more rapid at the lower pH (p < 0.05). These studies demonstrated that lactate transport was increased with exercise.