Mitochondrial adaptation in skeletal muscle is promoted by a diverse array of stimuli, and changes in mitochondrial plasticity have been noted as a result of a many exercise modalities. High-intensity interval training is one such modality that promotes mitochondrial adaptation in response to repeated short-duration bouts of intense effort. Another result of intense muscular effort is a decrease in muscle pH, resulting in intracellular acidosis. The effect of this acidosis on oxygen consumption in muscle has received attention previously, with mixed findings. An aspect of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function that has received limited attention is the production of reactive oxygen species. To date a small number of studies have also provided evidence that attenuating the development of intracellular acidosis may have beneficial effects for mitochondrial adaptation.
This thesis aimed to further investigate the effect of acidosis on mitochondrial function, and on intracellular signalling for mitochondrial biogenesis.