Muscle fatigue: lactic acid or inorganic phosphate the major cause?

News Physiol Sci. 2002 Feb:17:17-21. doi: 10.1152/physiologyonline.2002.17.1.17.

Abstract

Intracellular acidosis due mainly to lactic acid accumulation has been regarded as the most important cause of skeletal muscle fatigue. Recent studies on mammalian muscle, however, show little direct effect of acidosis on muscle function at physiological temperatures. Instead, inorganic phosphate, which increases during fatigue due to breakdown of creatine phosphate, appears to be a major cause of muscle fatigue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Lactates / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fatigue / physiology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Phosphates / physiology*

Substances

  • Lactates
  • Phosphates