Meeting Abstract

6.3  Tuesday, Jan. 4  Effects of exercise training and diet on avian muscle biochemistry PRICE, E.R.*; BAUCHINGER, U.; MCWILLIAMS, S.R.; BOYLES, M.L.; LANGLOIS, L.A.; GERSON, A.R.; GUGLIELMO, C.G.; University of Western Ontario; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Rhode Island; University of Western Ontario; University of Western Ontario eprice3@uwo.ca

Birds undergo seasonal changes in muscle biochemistry during migration. In particular, oxidative capacity and lipid transport pathways are upregulated in wild birds during the migratory season. This upregulation can be induced by photoperiodic manipulation in captive birds, although this increase is not as great as that observed in wild migrants, indicating that exercise may be necessary to induce the full seasonal response. We investigated the effects of training and an acute exercise bout on oxidative enzyme activity and lipid transporter expression in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) trained to fly in a wind tunnel. Additionally, we examined the effects of dietary lipid composition on these variables. Training resulted in increased capacity for lipid oxidation, while diet had limited effects on any of the measured variables. The seasonal changes to oxidative capacity in avian migrants likely result from a combination of endogenous rhythms and the ‘exercise training’ that occurs during migratory flight.