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Resistance training upregulates skeletal muscle Na+, K+-ATPase content, with elevations in both α1 and α2, but not β isoforms

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Abstract

Purpose

The Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) is important in regulating trans-membrane ion gradients, cellular excitability and muscle function. We investigated the effects of resistance training in healthy young adults on the adaptability of NKA content and of the specific α and β isoforms in human skeletal muscle.

Methods

Twenty-one healthy young males (22.9 ± 4.6 year; 1.80 ± 0.70 m, 85.1 ± 17.8 kg, mean ± SD) underwent 7 weeks of resistance training, training three times per week (RT, n = 16) or control (CON, n = 5). The training program was effective with a 39% gain in leg press muscle strength (p = 0.001). A resting vastus lateralis muscle biopsy was taken before and following RT or CON and assayed for NKA content ([3H]ouabain binding site content) and NKA isoform (α1, α2, β1, β2) abundances.

Results

After RT, each of NKA content (12%, 311 ± 76 vs 349 ± 76 pmol g wet weight−1, p = 0.01), NKA α1 (32%, p = 0.01) and α2 (10%, p < 0.01) isoforms were increased, whereas β1 (p = 0.18) and β2 (p = 0.22) isoforms were unchanged. NKA content and isoform abundances were unchanged during CON.

Conclusions

Resistance training increased muscle NKA content through upregulation of both α1 and α2 isoforms, which were independent of β isoform changes. In animal models, modulations in α1 and α2 isoform abundances in skeletal muscle may affect fatigue resistance during exercise, muscle hypertrophy and strength. Whether similar in-vivo functional benefits of these NKA isoform adaptations occurs in human muscle with resistance training remains to be determined.

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Abbreviations

1RM:

One repetition maximum

α:

Alpha subunit

β:

Beta subunit

CWI:

Coldwater immersion

K+ :

Potassium ion

[K+]:

Potassium ion concentration

Na+ :

Sodium-ion

[Na+]:

Sodium ion concentration

NKA:

Na+, K+-ATPase

RT:

Resistance training

[3H]ouabain binding:

Tritiated ouabain binding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia

    Muath M. Altarawneh, Aaron C. Petersen, Trevor Farr, Andrew Garnham, James R. Broatch, David J. Bishop & Michael J. McKenna

  2. Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Canberra, Australia

    James R. Broatch & Shona Halson

  3. School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia

    Shona Halson

Authors
  1. Muath M. Altarawneh
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  2. Aaron C. Petersen
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  3. Trevor Farr
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  4. Andrew Garnham
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  5. James R. Broatch
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  6. Shona Halson
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  7. David J. Bishop
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  8. Michael J. McKenna
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Contributions

MMA, ACP, TF, JRB, SLH, DJB, and MJM edited and conceived and designed research. ACP, TF, JRB, SLH, APG performed experiments. MMA analyzed data. MMA and MJM interpreted results of experiments. MA prepared figures. MMA and MJM drafted the manuscript. MMA, ACP, TF, JRB, SLH, DJB and MJM edited and revised manuscript. MMA, ACP, TF, JRB, SLH, BJB edited and MJM approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Michael J. McKenna.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Altarawneh, M.M., Petersen, A.C., Farr, T. et al. Resistance training upregulates skeletal muscle Na+, K+-ATPase content, with elevations in both α1 and α2, but not β isoforms. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1777–1785 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04408-3

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