Author(s): PEAKE, J.1, ROBERTS, L.2, PILEGGI, C.3, ZENG, N.3, FIGUEIREDO, V.3, MARKWORTH, J.3, RAASTAD, T.4, BRISKEY, D.2, SUZUKI, K., COOMBES, J.2, CAMERON-SMITH, D.3, Institution: QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 179

INTRODUCTION:
We compared the acute and chronic effects of post-exercise cold water immersion (CWI) and active recovery (ACT) on oxidative stress, redox-related gene expression, mitochondrial adaptations, and muscle oxidative capacity.
METHODS:
In a cross-over study, nine active men completed single-leg strength sessions on separate days, followed by either 10 min CWI or ACT. In a parallel-group study, twenty-one active men trained twice weekly for 3 months, and performed either 10 min CWI or ACT after each session.
RESULTS:
In the acute exercise study, blood oxidative stress measurements showed that plasma derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites, plasma biological antioxidant potential and glutathione peroxidase activity increased, whereas plasma F2-isoprostanes concentration decreased after exercise (P<0.05). F2-isoprostanes were lower and glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in the CWI trial vs the ACT trial (P<0.05). Redox-related genes in muscle including NRF2, SXRN, HMOX1, GCLM, TP53, and TXN increased after both trials, whereas NQO1 increased only after the CWI trial (P<0.05). In the training study, assessment of muscle mitochondrial adaptations showed increased citrate synthase activity in the ACT group (P=0.026), and increased activity of mitochondrial complexes I and IV in the CWI group (P<0.05) after training. p-AMPK expression increased (P<0.05) and PGC-1α expression tended to increase (P=0.055) in muscle after training in both groups. Evaluation of muscle oxidative capacity showed slower oxygen desaturation during a 10-s isometric contraction, and greater oxygen consumption during 50 isokinetic contractions after training in the CWI group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, CWI after resistance exercise does not alter acute redox-related transcription or chronic mitochondrial adaptations, whereas it may improve muscle oxygen kinetics.