The effects of exercise and diet on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-cycling properties in female vastus lateralis muscle were investigated in two groups of women following four different conditions. The conditions were 4 days of a low-carbohydrate (Lo CHO) and glycogen-depleting exercise plus a Lo CHO diet (Ex + Lo CHO) (experiment 2) and 4 days of normal CHO (Norm CHO) and glycogen-depleting exercise plus Norm CHO (Ex + Norm CHO) (experiment 1). Peak aerobic power (Vo2peak)) was 38.1 +/- 1.4 (SE); n = 9 and 35.6 +/- 1.4 ml.kg(-1).min(-1); n = 9, respectively. Sarcoplasmic reticulum properties measured in vitro in homogenates (micromol.g protein(-1).min(-1)) indicated exercise-induced reductions (P < 0.05) in maximal Ca(2+)-ATPase activity (0 > 30, 60 min > fatigue), Ca(2+) uptake (0 > 30 > 60 min, fatigue), and Ca(2+) release, both phase 1 (0, 30 > 60 min, fatigue) and phase 2 (0 > 30, 60 min, fatigue; 30 min > fatigue) in Norm CHO. Exercise was without effect in altering the Hill slope (n(H)), defined as the slope of relationship between Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and Ca(2+) concentration. No differences were observed between Norm CHO and Ex+Norm CHO. Compared with Norm CHO, Lo CHO resulted in a lower (P < 0.05) Ca(2+) uptake, phase 1 Ca(2+) release (30 min), and n(H). Ex + Lo CHO resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) Ca(2+) uptake and n(H) compared with Lo CHO. The results demonstrate that Lo CHO alone can disrupt SR Ca(2+) cycling and that, with the exception of Ca(2+) release, a glycogen-depleting session of exercise before Lo CHO can reverse the effects.