Regulation of fiber size, oxidative potential, and capillarization in human muscle by resistance exercise

To examine the hypothesis that increases in fiber cross-sectional area mediated by high-resistance training (HRT) would result in a decrease in fiber capillarization and oxidative potential, regardless of fiber type, we studied six untrained males (maximum oxygen consumption, 45.6 +/- 2.3 ml. kg-1. min-1; mean +/- SE) participating in a 12-wk program designed to produce a progressive hypertrophy of the quadriceps muscle. The training sessions, which were conducted 3 times/wk, consisted of three sets of three exercises, each performed for 6-8 repetitions maximum (RM). Measurements of fiber-type distribution obtained from tissue extracted from the vastus lateralis at 0, 4, 7, and 12 wk indicated reductions (P < 0.05) in type IIB fibers (15.1 +/- 2.1% vs. 7.2 +/- 1.3%) by 4 wk in the absence of changes in the other fiber types (types I, IIA, and IIAB). Training culminated in a 17% increase (P < 0.05) in cross-sectional area by 12 wk with initial increases observed at 4 wk. The increase was independent of fiber type-specific changes. The number of capillaries in contact with each fiber type increased by 12 wk, whereas capillary contacts-to-fiber area ratios remained unchanged. In a defined cross-sectional field, HRT also increased the capillaries per fiber at 12 wk. Training failed to alter cellular oxidative potential, as measured by succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, regardless of fiber type and training duration. It is concluded that modest hypertrophy induced by HRT does not compromise cellular tissue capillarization and oxidative potential regardless of fiber type.