Question

Why would you expect to find changes in the mitochondrial content of skeletal muscles following aerobic training, but not anaerobic training?

Answer 1

Mitochondria are small structures inside human cells that produce energy. They continuously work to change the energy gained from food into cellular energy that powers the muscles and the tissue and may increase or decrease depending on the exercise done. The skeletal muscle mitochondria are implicated with two main content a) age-related loss of function and b) insulin resistance. In humans, aging is associated with a reduced capacity for oxidative phosphorylation in muscle likely due to the absence of mitochondrial function. These impairement in oxidative phosphorylation contributes to age-associated insulin resistance and fat accumulation within the skeletal muscle. A recent study on this impaired mitochondrial function reveals that there was a substantial release of mitochondria in muscles after physical exertion.

EXERCISE (AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC) AND MITOCHONDRIA: There are two main types of exercise a) aerobic and b) anaerobic. Aerobic exercise focusses on endurance and the other primarily concerned with strength. But, both plays a pivotal role in maintaining an active lifestyle and mitochondrial development in humans. Anaerobic exercise is concerned with building up of muscle fibres but increased muscle does not peak up the mitochondrial content in muscles.On the otherhand, aerobic exercise stimulates mitochondrial growth an proves to be more effective than anaerobic exercise.