Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2011; 32(9): 683-687
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1279732
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

MSTN mRNA After Varying Exercise Modalities in Humans

T. Schiffer1 , S. Geisler2 , B. Sperlich3 , H. K. Strüder2
  • 1German Sport University Cologne, Outpatient Clinic for Sports Traumatology and Public Health Consultation, Cologne, Germany
  • 2German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, Cologne, Germany
  • 3German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, Cologne, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision April 22, 2011

Publication Date:
21 June 2011 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of strength and endurance training on myostatin mRNA in the vastus lateralis muscle of healthy and physically active humans. 21 healthy and physically active sports students (static and dynamic knee extensor strength 33±4.5 N/kgBW; 1 185±170 W, respectively; maximum oxygen uptake 52.5±8 ml/kgBW/min) were recruited and randomly assigned to a moderate endurance training group (n=7), a strength training group (n=7) and a control group (n=7). Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle 3–5 days before the start as well as at the end of the 12 weeks’ training period. Exercise-specific functional improvements after moderate endurance training and strength training were measured for submaximal endurance and for static and dynamic strength of the knee extensor muscles. None of the myostatin mRNA values showed significant pre-post differences or group-specific differences. These results are in contrast to data with sedentary subjects, suggesting that myostatin is necessary for adaptations of skeletal muscle to exercise stress. We conclude that functional improvements after moderate endurance training and strength training can occur without alterations in myostatin mRNA in physically active humans.

Key words

PCR - muscle biopsy - strength - endurance - physically active

References

  • 1 Åstrand PO. Human physical fitness with special reference to sex and age.  Physiol Rev. 1956;  36 307-335
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Bird SP, Tarpenning KM, Marino FE. Designing resistance training programmes to enhance muscular fitness: a review of the acute programme variables.  Sports Med. 2005;  35 841-851
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Bransford DR, Howley ET. Oxygen cost of running in trained and untrained men and women.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1977;  9 41-44
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Brook MH, Kaiser KK. Muscle fiber types: how many and what kind?.  Arch Neurol. 1970;  23 369-379
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Coffey VG, Shield A, Canny BJ, Carey KA, Cameron-Smith D, Hawley JA. Interaction of contractile activity and training history on mRNA abundance in skeletal muscle from trained athletes.  Am J Physiol. 2006;  290 E849-E855
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Costa A, Dalloul H, Hegyesi H, Apor P, Csende Z, Racz L, Vaczi M, Tihanyi J. Impact of repeated bouts of eccentric exercise on myogenic gene expression.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007;  101 427-436
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Hittel DS, Axelson M, Sarna N, Shearer J, Huffman KM, Kraus WE. Myostatin decreases with aerobic exercise and associates with insulin resistance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;  42 2023-2029
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Hollmann W. Zur Trainingslehre: Muskuläre Beanspruchungsformen und ihre leistungsbegrenzenden Faktoren.  Sportarzt Sportmed. 1967;  11 443-445
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Hulmi JJ, Ahtiainen JP, Kaasalainen T, Pollanen E, Hakkinen K, Alen M, Selanne H, Kovanen V, Mero AA. Postexercise myostatin and activin IIb mRNA levels: effects of strength training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;  39 289-297
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Hulmi JJ, Tannerstedt J, Selänne H, Kainulainen H, Kovanen V, Mero AA. Resistance exercise with whey protein ingestion affect mTOR signalling pathway and myostatin in men.  J Appl Physiol. 2009;  106 1720-1729
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Jensky NE, Sims JK, Dieli-Conwright CM, Sattler FR, Rice JC, Schroeder ET. Exercise does not influence myostatin and follistatin messenger RNA expression in young women.  J Strength Cond Res. 2010;  24 522-530
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Jespersen JG, Nedergaard A, Andersen LL, Schjerling P, Andersen JL. Myostatin expression during human muscle hypertrophy and subsequent atrophy: increased myostatin with detraining.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;  21 215-223
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Kim JS, Petrella JK, Cross JM, Bamman MM. Load-mediated down-regulation of myostatin mRNA is not sufficient to promote myofiber hypertrophy in humans: a cluster analysis.  J Appl Physiol. 2007;  103 1488-1495
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Kopple JD, Cohen AH, Wang H, Qing D, Tang Z, Fournier M, Lewis M, Casaburi R, Storer T. Effect of exercise on mRNA levels for growth factors in skeletal muscle of hemodialysis patients.  J Ren Nutr. 2006;  16 312-324
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Laursen PB, Jenkins DG. The scientific basis for high-intensity interval training.  Sports Med. 2002;  32 53-73
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Matsakas A, Bozzo C, Cacciani N, Caliaro F, Reggiani C, Mascarello F, Patruno M. Effect of swimming on myostatin expression in white and red gastrocnemius muscle and in cardiac muscle of rats.  Exp Physiol. 2006;  91 983-994
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Matsakas A, Diel P. The growth factor myostatin, a key regulator in skeletal muscle growth and homeostatis.  Int J Sports Med. 2005;  26 83-89
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Matsakas A, Friedel A, Hertrampf T, Diel P. Short-term endurance training results in a muscle-specific decrease of myostatin mRNA content in the rat.  Acta Physiol Scand. 2005;  183 299-307
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 McPherron AC, Lawler AM, Lee SJ. Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice by a new TGF-beta superfamily member.  Nature. 1997;  387 83-90
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 McPherron AC, Lee SJ. Double muscling in cattle due to mutations in the myostatin gene.  Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1997;  94 12457-12461
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Morgan DW, Bransford DR, Costill DL, Daniels JT, Howley ET, Kahenbuhl GS. Variation in the aerobic demand of running among trained and untrained subjects.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;  27 404-409
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Pette D. The adaptive potential of skeletal muscle fibers.  Can J Appl Physiol. 2002;  27 423-448
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Puntschart A, Claassen H, Jostarndt K, Hoppeler H, Billeter R. mRNAs of enzymes involved in energy metabolism and mtDNA are increased in endurance-trained athletes.  Am J Physiol. 1995;  269 C619-C625
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Roth SM, Martel GF, Ferrell RE, Metter EJ, Hurley BF, Rogers MA. Myostatin gene expression is reduced in humans with heavy-resistance strength training: a brief communication.  Exp Biol Med. 2003;  228 706-709
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Schiffer T, Schulte S, Hollmann W, Bloch W, Strüder HK. Effects of strength and endurance training on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 in humans.  Horm Metab Res. 2009;  41 250-254
    Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Schuelke M, Wagner KR, Stolz LE, Hübner C, Riebel T, Kömen W, Braun T, Tobin JF, Lee SJ. Myostatin mutation associated with gross muscle hypertrophy in a child.  N Engl J Med. 2004;  350 2682-2688
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Wehling M, Cai B, Tidball JG. Modulation of myostatin expression durino modified muscle use.  FASEB J. 2000;  14 103-110
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Willoughby DS. Effects of heavy resistance training on myostatin mRNA and protein expression.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;  36 574-582
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar

Correspondence

Dr. Thorsten Schiffer

German Sport University

Cologne

Outpatient Clinic for Sports

Traumatology and Public Health

Consultation

Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6

50933 Cologne

Germany

Phone: + 49/2214/982 31 90

Fax: + 49/2214/982 83 10

Email: t.schiffer@dshs-koeln.de