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Satellite cell activation and mTOR signaling pathway response to resistance and combined exercise in elite weight lifters

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to compare the effects of a single exercise training mode (resistance exercise) with a combined exercise training (resistance and plyometric exercise) mode on satellite cell activity and anabolic signaling at the molecular level.

Methods

Eighteen male weight lifters (20 ± 4 years, BMI 27 ± 6 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to either a series of resistance exercise or a series of combined exercise group. The intensity of the exercise was set at 60% of their 1 RM weight and subjects completed three sets each of six repetitions. The combined exercise group performed three different types of resistance exercise alternating with three different types of plyometric exercise, whereas the resistance exercise group performed only the three different types of resistance exercise which was repeated twice. Muscle biopsies were obtained the vastus lateralis muscle immediately before and 3 h after one bout of exercise.

Results

Exercise induced increases in satellite cell activation and myofibrillar protein synthesis following both exercise modes, but the resistance exercise group was superior compared to the combined exercise group in satellite cell activity expressed by Ki67/CD56 (165 vs 232%) and PI3K/Akt protein expression (121 vs 157%), mTOR protein expression (117 vs 288%), p70S6K protein expression (253 vs 809%), and 4E-BP1 protein expression (70 vs 139%) of anabolic signaling pathway.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the previous findings showing a greater effect of combined as opposed to a single exercise mode could be the effect of a greater training volume rather than a true-training effect of a combined exercise program.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

EIF4EBP1:

(4E-BP1) eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1

elF2Bɛ:

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2Bɛ

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

mTOR:

Mammalian target of rapamycin

p70S6K:

Ribosomal protein S6 kinase

Pax7:

Paired box protein Pax-7

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases

RM:

Repeated maximum

SD:

Standard deviation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Physiology, Korea National Sport University, Seoul, South Korea

    Chang Hyun Lim & Chang Keun Kim

  2. Hochiminh City University of Sport, Hochiminh City, Vietnam

    Thien Suong Luu & Le Quy Phoung

  3. SPIK Sport Medicine Clinic and Performance Center, Seoul, South Korea

    Tae Seok Jeong

Authors
  1. Chang Hyun Lim
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  2. Thien Suong Luu
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  3. Le Quy Phoung
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  4. Tae Seok Jeong
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  5. Chang Keun Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang Keun Kim.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Lim, C.H., Luu, T.S., Phoung, L.Q. et al. Satellite cell activation and mTOR signaling pathway response to resistance and combined exercise in elite weight lifters. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 2355–2363 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3722-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3722-x

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