Après plusieurs mois d'interruption, je tenais à reprendre avec un peu plus de régularité la présentation d'études scientifiques relatives aux adaptations induites par la mise en place de contraintes spécifiques au cours de l'exercice aigu ou chronique. Ce mois-ci, je propose de mettre en avant une étude récemment publiée et conduite par l'équipe suedoise dirigée par le Pr Kent Sahlin sur le processus adaptatif mitochondrial, chez des cyclistes de haut niveau d'adaptation, consécutif à 2 types de stimulations en Interval-Training spécifiques: (A) 7 x 30 s (à Intensité Supramaximale) vs (B) 3 x 20 min (à Intensité ~ 87% du VO2 pic). Voici le résumé de ce travail original dont les conclusions sont particulièrement intéressantes :
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010
Mitochondrial gene expression in elite cyclists: effects of high-intensity interval exercise
Niklas P, Li W, Jens W, Michail T, Kent S
Little is known about the effect of training on genetic markers for mitochondrial biogenesis in elite athletes. We tested the hypothesis that low-volume sprint interval exercise (SIE) would be as effective as high-volume interval exercise (IE).
Ten male cyclists competing on national elite level (W (max) 403 +/- 13 W, VO(2peak) 68 +/- 1 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) performed two interval exercise protocols: 7 x 30-s "all-out" bouts (SIE) and 3 x 20-min bouts at ~87% of VO(2peak) (IE). During IE, the work was eightfold larger (1,095 +/- 43 vs. 135 +/- 5 kJ) and the exercise duration 17 times longer (60 vs. 3.5 min) than during SIE. Muscle samples were taken before and 3 h after exercise.
The mRNA of upstream markers of mitochondrial biogenesis [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1alpha), PGC-1alpha-related coactivator (PRC) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARdelta)] increased to the same extent after SIE and IE (6-, 1.5- and 1.5-fold increase, respectively). Of the downstream targets of PGC-1alpha, mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) increased only after SIE and was significantly different from that after IE (P < 0.05), whereas others increased to the same extent (pyruvate dehydrogenasekinase, PDK4) or was unchanged (nuclear respiratory factor 2, NRF2).
We conclude that upstream genetic markers of mitochondrial biogenesis increase in a similar way in elite athletes after one exercise session of SIE and IE. However, since the volume and duration of work was considerably lower during SIE and since Tfam, the downstream target of PGC-1alpha, increased only after SIE, we conclude that SIE might be a time-efficient training strategy for highly trained individuals.
