The effects of obesity and different modes of training on the skeletal muscle microvasculature

The principle aims of this thesis involved the development of methods to measure enzymes that determine nitric oxide (NO) production (eNOS) and quenching (NAD(P)Hoxidase) within the microvasculature of skeletal muscle, and the use of these techniques to investigate metabolic syndrome and various training modes. Chapter 2 describes the development of reliable methods to analyse enzymes responsible for NO bioavailability within the endothelium of skeletal muscle microvessels. Chapter 3 suggests that impaired eNOS ser1176 phosphorylation is instrumental to the reductions in insulin sensitivity of obese Zucker rats. Chapter 4 reveals that 6 weeks endurance training (ET) and sprint interval training (SIT) in sedentary males induce similar increases in capillary density, and that SIT is more effective than ET at increasing eNOS content. Chapter 5 fails to observe a change in any measure of microvascular structure or function following 6 weeks resistance training in sedentary males. Chapter 6 suggests that 4 weeks of constant-load SIT is an effective intervention to improve the content of endothelial enzymes controlling NO bioavailability in obesity. In conclusion this thesis describes novel techniques which will be valuable tools for future research into microvascular function, and suggests that SIT may be an effective time efficient strategy to improve microvascular function.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo