Fig. 1

Glycogen concentrations in epitrochlearis muscles at the start of refeeding or after 4, 8, 12, or 16 h of refeeding in time-matched fasted controls, non-exercised refed rats, HIS-exercised refed rats, and LIS-exercised refed rats. Open circles time-matched fasted controls, gray circles non-exercised refed rats, filled circles HIS-exercised refed rats, filled triangles LIS-exercised refed rats. The animals were fasted for 16 h and then allowed free access to standard chow (containing 530 g carbohydrate/kg) and drinking water containing 10% sucrose for 4, 8, 12, or 16 h after the cessation of fasting. Exercised refed rats performed a bout of high-intensity intermittent swimming (HIS) or low-intensity prolonged swimming (LIS) just before the start of refeeding. The time-matched fasted control rats were fasted for 16 h before collection of the muscle samples. Values are expressed as the mean ± SE; n = 6–9 muscles/group. a Time-matched fasted controls versus the other three groups, P < 0.05. b Non-exercised refed rats versus HIS-exercised refed rats, P < 0.05. c Non-exercised refed rats versus LIS-exercised refed rats, P < 0.05. d HIS-exercised refed rats versus LIS-exercised refed rats, P < 0.05