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Testosterone stimulates myoglobin expression in different muscles of the mouse

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Abstract

The regulation of energy metabolism is one of the major functions of steroid hormones. This study was performed to explore whether testosterone can regulate the aerobic capacity of skeletal muscles via myoglobin expression. To study this, changes in testosterone level were quantified, and the level of myoglobin protein was analyzed using Western blot in mice subjected to 6 weeks of training (T) or testosterone administration (A). Both treatments significantly increased the plasma testosterone level when compared to the untrained (U) or control (C) group. Training induced a significant increase in the myoglobin content in gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles (287 and 83%, respectively). Testosterone administration increased myoglobin concentration in plantaris (183%) but not in gastrocnemius. In extensor digitorum longus muscle the protein content decreased slightly after exercise, but increased 78% after testosterone administration. In soleus and rectus femoris muscles the myoglobin content was unchanged after both treatments. The data show that testosterone and training have differential effects on the concentration of myoglobin in some, but not all muscles. This may have an influence on the aerobic capacity in mouse skeletal muscles. The data demonstrated that both testosterone administration and training induced an increase in plasma testosterone level. However, the effects of the treatments on the myoglobin concentration differ.

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Abbreviations

EDL:

Musculus extensor digitorum longus

GAS:

Musculus gastrocnemius

Mb:

Myoglobin

PL:

Musculus plantaris

RF:

Musculus rectus femoris

SO:

Musculus soleus

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Acknowledgments

The authors express appreciation to Dr. Esa Hohtola for his careful reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Satu Mänttäri, Katja Anttila & Matti Järvilehto

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  1. Satu Mänttäri
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  2. Katja Anttila
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  3. Matti Järvilehto
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Correspondence to Satu Mänttäri.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Mänttäri, S., Anttila, K. & Järvilehto, M. Testosterone stimulates myoglobin expression in different muscles of the mouse. J Comp Physiol B 178, 899–907 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-008-0280-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-008-0280-x

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