Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(12): 879-887
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1238290
Genetics & Molecular Biology

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Stength, Endurance or Combined Training Elicit Diverse Skeletal Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain Isoform Proportion but Unaltered Androgen Receptor Concentration in Older Men

J. P. Ahtiainen1 , J. J. Hulmi1 , W. J. Kraemer2 , M. Lehti3 , A. Pakarinen4 , A. A. Mero1 , L. Karavirta1 , E. Sillanpää1 , H. Selänne3 , M. Alen5 , J. Komulainen3 , V. Kovanen5 , K. Nyman6 , K. Häkkinen1
  • 1Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 2University of Connecticut, Kinesiology, Storrs, United States
  • 3LIKES-Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 4Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
  • 5Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 6Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision July 19, 2009

Publication Date:
02 November 2009 (online)

Abstract

We investigated whether the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) proportion and androgen receptor (AR) concentration in skeletal muscle differ following 21 weeks of strength, endurance and combined training in untrained older men. Strength (S) and endurance (E) groups trained twice per week and combined (S+E) group trained four times per week (two strength and two endurance). Muscle biopsies were obtained before and after the training period from m. vastus lateralis (VL) and AR mRNA and protein concentration and MyHC proportion were determined. 1RM increased during the training period in S, S+E and E but the changes were greater in S and S+E than in E. Statistically significant increases were observed only in S and S+E in maximal isometric force as well as in VL thickness. VO2max increased significantly only in E. MyHCIIa proportion increased in S, while MyHCIIa proportion decreased and MyHCI increased (p<0.05) in E. No statistically significant changes were observed in serum testosterone and in AR mRNA or protein concentrations. The present results indicate that 21 weeks of strength, endurance or combined training changed MyHC proportion according to the training method but did not have an effect on AR mRNA or protein expression in skeletal muscle at rest.

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Correspondence

Dr. J. P. Ahtiainen

Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä

P.O. Box 35

Jyväskylä

Finland

Phone: +358/14/260 20 83

Fax: +358/14/260 20 71

Email: juha.ahtiainen@jyu.fi

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