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Int J Sports Med 2005; 26(9): 727-731
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-837458
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In Vivo Measurements of Glucose Uptake in Human Achilles Tendon During Different Exercise Intensities

J. Hannukainen1 , K. K. Kalliokoski1 , 5 , P. Nuutila1 , 2 , T. Fujimoto1 , 4 , J. Kemppainen1 , T. Viljanen1 , M. S. Laaksonen1 , R. Parkkola3 , J. Knuuti1 , M. Kjær 5
  • 1Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  • 2Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  • 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland
  • 4Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tohoku, Sendai, Japan
  • 5Sports Medicine Research Unit, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: October 31, 2004

Publication Date:
15 March 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Muscular contraction and loading of adjacent tendons has been demonstrated to cause increased blood flow and metabolic activity in the peritendinous region. However, it is poorly known to what extent the human tendon itself takes up glucose during exercise. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure tendon glucose uptake with increasing exercise intensity and to compare it to muscle glucose uptake at the same intensities. Eight young men were examined on three separate days during which they performed 35 min of cycling at 30, 55 and 75 % of V·O2max, respectively. Glucose uptake was measured directly by positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG). [18F]FDG was injected after 10 min of exercise that was continued for a further 25 min after the injection. PET scanning of the thigh and Achilles region was performed after the exercise. Glucose uptake of the Achilles tendon (AT) remained unchanged (7.1 ± 1.5, 6.6 ± 1.1, and 6.0 ± 1.1 µmol · kg-1 · min-1) with the increasing workload, although the glucose uptake in m. quadriceps femoris simultaneously clearly increased (48 ± 35, 120 ± 35, and 152 ± 74 µmol · kg-1 · min-1, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the AT takes up glucose during exercise but in significantly smaller amounts than the skeletal muscle does. Furthermore, glucose uptake in the AT is not increased with the increasing exercise intensity. This may be partly explained by the cycle ergometry exercise used in the present study, which probably causes only a little increase in strain to the AT with increasing exercise intensity.

Key words

Connective tissue - metabolism - blood flow

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J. Hannukainen

Turku PET Centre

P. O. Box 52

20521 Turku

Finland

Phone: + 38523132798

Fax: + 35 8 22 31 81 91

Email: jarna.hannukainen@tyks.fi