Observation and quantitation of lactate in oxidative and glycolytic fibers of skeletal muscles.

In 1H NMR spectroscopic studies of fatiguing skeletal muscles, two peaks consistently arise near 1.3 ppm, typically 15-20 Hz apart at 300 MHz. From a variety of NMR and biochemical evidence, both peaks are identified as lactate. Both the CH3 and CH protons of lactate experience the same shift in intact muscle; this rules out chemical bonding or complexation. The ratio of intensity of the two methyl peaks varies with muscle type and suggests a correlation with oxidative and glycolytic fiber populations. The shift can be accounted for by the presence of paramagnetic myoglobin in the oxidative fibers. Phantom studies, as well as oxygen, temperature, field, and orientation dependence of the muscle spectra are all consistent with an explanation based upon bulk magnetic susceptibility. It is concluded that the two lactate peaks represent separate contributions from glycolytic and oxidative muscle fibers.