Effect of voluntary exercise on maximal oxygen uptake in young female Fischer 344 rats

Abstract

The effect of voluntary exercise on maximal oxygen uptake (V̇E(O2) max) was studied in young female Fischer 344 rats. After 10 weeks of wheel-running training, the absolute V̇(O2 max) and V̇(O2) max relative to body mass increased without a decline in body mass. The running speed eliciting V̇(O2) max, heart and soleus muscle mass, and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in the soleus muscle also increased. These results suggest that voluntary exercise is an effective means of increasing the aerobic exercise capacity of-young female Fischer 344 rats.