Mitochondrial antioxidative capacity regulates muscle glucose uptake in the conscious mouse: effect of exercise and diet

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that exercise-stimulated muscle glucose uptake (MGU) is augmented by increasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) scavenging capacity. This hypothesis was tested in genetically altered mice fed chow or a high-fat (HF) diet that accelerates mtROS formation. Mice overexpressing SOD2 ( sod2Tg), mitochondria-targeted catalase ( mcatTg), and combined SOD2 and mCAT (mtAO) were used to increase mtROS scavenging. mtROS was assessed by the H2O2 emitting potential ( JH2O2) in muscle fibers. sod2Tg did not decrease JH2O2 in chow-fed mice, but decreased JH2O2 in HF-fed mice. mcatTg and mtAO decreased JH2O2 in both chow- and HF-fed mice. In parallel, the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) was unaltered in sod2Tg in chow-fed mice, but was increased in HF-fed sod2Tg and both chow- and HF-fed mcatTg and mtAO. Nitrotyrosine, a marker of NO-dependent, reactive nitrogen species (RNS)-induced nitrative stress, was decreased in both chow- and HF-fed sod2Tg, mcatTg, and mtAO mice. This effect was not changed with exercise. Kg, an index of MGU was assessed using 2-[14C]-deoxyglucose during exercise. In chow-fed mice, sod2Tg, mcatTg, and mtAO increased exercise Kg compared with wild types. Exercise Kg was also augmented in HF-fed sod2Tg and mcatTg mice but unchanged in HF-fed mtAO mice. In conclusion, mtROS scavenging is a key regulator of exercise-mediated MGU and this regulation depends on nutritional state.