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Int J Sports Med 1984; 05(1): 11-14
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1025872
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Relationship of Oxygen Uptake to Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activity in Human Skeletal Muscle

R. R. Jenkins1 , R. Friedland1 , H. Howald2
  • 1Biology Department, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
  • 2Research Institute, Swiss School for Physical Education and Sports, Magglingen, Switzerland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

A considerable amount of evidence now makes it clear that aerobic tissues require an elaborate enzyme system to remove the harmful reaction products of oxygen reduction. A portion of this protective system has been studied in human muscle and rat tissues. The V̇O2 max as well as the superoxide dismutase and catalase activity of vastus lateralis muscle of 12 healthy, male subjects was measured. The subjects with a high aerobic capacity (V̇O2 max > 60 ml·kg-1·min-1) had significantly greater levels of both superoxide dismutase and catalase. There was also a linear relationship between both superoxide dismutase and catalase and V̇O2 max. The tissue oxygen consumption, and enzyme activity of the liver, heart, lung, and gastrocnemius from 24 rats was also studied. There was a significant rank order correlation between tissue V̇O2 and tissue enzyme activity of both superoxide dismutase and catalase.

Key words

V̇O2 max - hydroperoxide metabolism - catalase - superoxide dismutase - skeletal muscle