Abstract figure legend Role of MICU3 in skeletal muscle physiology. Deletion of MICU3 leads to a decline in exercise capacity in mice, along with an accelerated onset of muscle fatigue. The mitochondria from skeletal muscle lacking MICU3 exhibited lower calcium uptake. Furthermore, skeletal muscle from MICU3-KO mice shows reduced net oxidation of NADH and membrane potential (ΔΨ) during electrically stimulated muscle contraction in comparison to wild-type mice. These findings collectively underscore the important role of MICU3 in regulating mitochondrial calcium uptake, which impacts the synchronization of energy demand and supply in skeletal muscle physiology.

Abstract figure legend Exercise training can be used as a non-pharmacological treatment to halt, or at least reduce, the progression of the cardiovascular and metabolic derangements that compose the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies using intense interval training have spurred interest in other exercise factors that may increase exercise training effectiveness. For example, the time of day at which training takes place could modulate the health outcome. The present study randomly assigned 175 individuals with metabolic syndrome to train in the morning or afternoon, or to remain untrained. The novel finding was that working out in the morning further improved, systolic blood pressure, insulin resistance and, in general, the metabolic syndrome (i.e. Z score) compared to training in the afternoon. Thus, morning training is somewhat more effective in maximizing health promotion in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract figure legend Simultaneous control of forward and backward locomotion by spinal sensorimotor circuits. Sensory feedback from the hindimbs interacts with neuronal circuits of the lumbosacral cord to coordinate the left and right hindlimbs, allowing one hindlimb to step forward while the other steps backward on a split-belt treadmill.

Abstract figure legend Electrical slow waves recorded directly from ICC-MY of the Guinea pig gastric antrum. A, interval between slow waves: small amplitude spontaneous transient depolarizations (STDs) summate to generate upstroke. B, upstroke phase: activation of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ conductance and Ca²⁺ entry. C, plateau phase: Ca²⁺ entry initiates Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release and activation of Ca²⁺-activated Cl⁻ conductance (ANO1 or a Ca²⁺-dependent non-selective cation conductance). D, repolarization: when Ca²⁺ release from ER is exhausted, ANO1 is deactivated and cells repolarize to the inter-slow wave potential.

Abstract Figure legend Fetal growth restriction (FGR) results in altered cardiac metabolism in the late gestation fetus. This includes reduced glucose and fatty acid transporter expression, which has downstream effects on molecular markers of metabolism, including lower abundance of mitochondria and complexes II and IV of the electron transport chain (ETC).