Muscle metabolism during exercise in men operated upon for coarctation of the aorta in childhood

Abstract

Muscle biopsies were taken from the quadriceps muscle during rest and exercise in 16 young men (ages 16–28 years) operated upon for coarctation of the aorta during childhood and 10 healthy men (ages 19–25 years). Resting values and depletion after exercise for ATP, CP and glycogen were similar in the two groups. Muscle-lactate concentrations were higher at all levels of exercise in the operated group, while blood-lactate concentrations did not differ. It is concluded that the operated patients have a disturbed blood-flow regulation and a somewhat impaired blood-flow to the working leg muscles.

Key Words:

• adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• blood lactate
• creatine phosphate (CP)
• glycogen
• muscle lactate
• oxygen uptake
• young men