Physiological and molecular responses to an acute bout of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT)

PURPOSE: We have previously shown that 6 weeks of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) improves [Formula: see text]max in sedentary men and women and insulin sensitivity in men. Here, we present two studies examining the acute physiological and molecular responses to REHIT.

METHODS: In Study 1, five men and six women (age: 26 ± 7 year, BMI: 23 ± 3 kg m(-2), [Formula: see text]max: 51 ± 11 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) performed a single 10-min REHIT cycling session (60 W and two 20-s 'all-out' sprints), with vastus lateralis biopsies taken before and 0, 30, and 180 min post-exercise for analysis of glycogen content, phosphorylation of AMPK, p38 MAPK and ACC, and gene expression of PGC1α and GLUT4. In Study 2, eight men (21 ± 2 year; 25 ± 4 kg·m(-2); 39 ± 10 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) performed three trials (REHIT, 30-min cycling at 50 % of [Formula: see text]max, and a resting control condition) in a randomised cross-over design. Expired air, venous blood samples, and subjective measures of appetite and fatigue were collected before and 0, 15, 30, and 90 min post-exercise.

RESULTS: Acutely, REHIT was associated with a decrease in muscle glycogen, increased ACC phosphorylation, and activation of PGC1α. When compared to aerobic exercise, changes in [Formula: see text], RER, plasma volume, and plasma lactate and ghrelin were significantly more pronounced with REHIT, whereas plasma glucose, NEFAs, PYY, and measures of appetite were unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data demonstrate that REHIT is associated with a pronounced disturbance of physiological homeostasis and associated activation of signalling pathways, which together may help explain previously observed adaptations once considered exclusive to aerobic exercise.