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Effects of strength, endurance and combined training on myosin heavy chain content and fibre-type distribution in humans

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Abstract

This study investigated the effect of strength training, endurance training, and combined strength plus endurance training on fibre-type transitions, fibre cross-sectional area (CSA) and MHC isoform content of the vastus lateralis muscle. Forty volunteers (24 males and 16 females) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control (C), endurance training (E), strength training (S), or concurrent strength and endurance training (SE). The S and E groups each trained three times a week for 12 weeks; the SE group performed the same S and E training on alternate days. The development of knee extensor muscle strength was S>SE>E (P<0.05) and has been reported elsewhere. The reduction in knee extensor strength development in SE as compared to S corresponded to a 6% increase in MHCIIa content (P<0.05) in SE at the expense of the faster MHCIId(x) isoform (P<0.05), as determined by electrophoretic analyses; reductions in MHCIId/x content after S or E training were attenuated by comparison. Both S and SE induced three- to fourfold reductions (P<0.05) in the proportion of type IIA/IID(X) hybrid fibres. S also induced fourfold increases in the proportion of type I/IIA hybrid fibres within both genders, and in a population of fibres expressing a type I/IID(X) hybrid phenotype within the male subjects. Type I/IIA hybrid fibres were not detected after SE. Both S and SE training paradigms induced similar increases (16–19%, P<0.05) in the CSA of type IIA fibres. In contrast, the increase in CSA of type I fibres was 2.9-fold greater (P<0.05) in S as compared to SE after 12 weeks. We conclude that the interference of knee extensor strength development in SE versus S was related to greater fast-to-slow fibre-type transitions and attenuated hypertrophy of type I fibres. Data are given as mean (SEM) unless otherwise stated.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jean Pearcey for excellent technical assistance. This study was funded by research grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (to C.T. Putman), the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) (to C.T. Putman), the University of Alberta (to G.J. Bell and C.T. Putman), and the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (to G.J. Bell). C.T. Putman is a Heritage Medical Scholar of AHFMR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, T6G 2H9, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Charles T. Putman, Xinhao Xu, Ellen Gillies, Ian M. MacLean & Gordon J. Bell

  2. The Centre for Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, T6G 2S2, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Charles T. Putman

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  1. Charles T. Putman
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Correspondence to Charles T. Putman.

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Putman, C.T., Xu, X., Gillies, E. et al. Effects of strength, endurance and combined training on myosin heavy chain content and fibre-type distribution in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 92, 376–384 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1104-7

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