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The influence of estradiol on muscle damage and leg strength after intense eccentric exercise

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the influence of estradiol on muscle damage and leg strength after intense eccentric exercise.

Methods

Eight men (MEN), eight normally menstruating women (WomenNM), and eight women using oral contraceptives (WomenOC) participated in this study. Subjects performed 240 maximal-effort bilateral eccentric contractions of the quadriceps muscle groups designed to elicit exercise-induced muscle damage (EiMD). Serum creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (Mb), and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) concentrations were measured before (pre-) EiMD, as well as 0, 6, 24, and 48 h post-EiMD. Peak isometric quadriceps torque (i.e., leg strength) was measured pre-EiMD, as well as 24 and 48 h post-EiMD.

Results

The increases in CK, Mb, and FABP concentrations from pre- to post-EiMD were greater in MEN (10-fold, 15-fold, and fourfold, respectively) and WomenOC (sevenfold, 11-fold, and ninefold) compared with WomenNM (five-, six-, and threefold; p < 0.05). The decline in leg strength was about 10 % pre- to 24 h post-EiMD in all groups and decreased a further 10–15 % by 48 h post-EiMD in the MEN and WomenOC only.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest an important role of estradiol in blunting the muscle damage response to intense eccentric exercise and preserving muscle function after EiMD.

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Abbreviations

EiMD:

Exercise-induced muscle damage

CK:

Creatine kinase

Mb:

Myoglobin

FABP:

Fatty acid-binding protein

WomenNM:

Normally menstruating women

WomenOC:

Women taking the oral contraceptive pill

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Griffith University Sports Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia

    Clare Minahan & Sarah Joyce

  2. Heart Foundation Research Centre, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Andrew C. Bulmer & Surendran Sabapathy

  3. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Neil Cronin

Authors
  1. Clare Minahan
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  2. Sarah Joyce
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  3. Andrew C. Bulmer
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  4. Neil Cronin
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  5. Surendran Sabapathy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clare Minahan.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Minahan, C., Joyce, S., Bulmer, A.C. et al. The influence of estradiol on muscle damage and leg strength after intense eccentric exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1493–1500 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3133-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3133-9

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