Effects of different training protocols on Ca2+ handling and oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

The modulation of calcium channel density and oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle after different training protocols were studied in 3-year-old Atlantic salmon smolts. The effect of endurance exercise on dihydropyridine (DHP) and ryanodine (Ry) receptor densities as well as on muscle metabolism were determined by immunoblot and histochemical analysis from swimming muscles of fish subjected to nine different training protocols varying in duration and water current velocity. In general, exercise training caused a significant increase in the density of both DHP and Ry receptors in both muscle types studied. In red muscle, the most notable increase in DHP and Ry receptor expression was observed in muscle sections from fish swimming against intermediate current velocity for a 2-week period (182.3 +/- 16.3%, 234.6 +/- 30.3%, respectively). In white muscle, the expression of DHP and Ry receptors was most upregulated after a 6-week swimming period also at intermediate water current velocity (270.4 +/- 23.9%, 114.4 +/- 15.3%, respectively). As with the activity of enzymes involved in muscle energy supply, endurance exercise resulted in a significant increase in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, but a significant decrease in phosphorylase activity. We conclude that the expression of both DHP and Ry receptors was upregulated in the swimming muscles of salmon as a consequence of exercise training. This, along with the increased oxidative enzyme activity, provides benefits to the contraction efficiency of fish muscles while swimming. However, it was also observed that optimal oxidative swimming capacity is achieved only with a proper exercise program, since the most relevant changes in DHP and Ry receptor expression, as well as in oxidative capacity, were seen in the group training with the intermediate swimming velocity.