Resistance exercise alters MRF and IGF-I mRNA content in human skeletal muscle

1 August Krogh Institute and 2 Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Submitted 30 September 2002 ; accepted in final form 23 April 2003 Increasing evidence suggests that the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) and IGF-I have important roles in the hypertrophy response observed after mechanical loading. We, therefore, hypothesized that a bout of heavy-resistance training would affect the MRF and IGF-I mRNA levels in human skeletal muscle. Six male subjects completed four sets of 6-12 repetitions on a leg press and knee extensor machine separated by 3 min. Myogenin, MRF4, MyoD, IGF-IEabc (isoforms a, b, and c) and IGF-IEbc (isoform b and c) mRNA levels were determined in the vastus lateralis muscle by RT-PCR before exercise, immediately after, and 1, 2, 6, 24, and 48 h postexercise. Myogenin, MyoD, and MRF4 mRNA levels were elevated ( P < 0.005) by 100-400% 0-24 h postexercise. IGF-IEabc mRNA content decreased ( P < 0.005) by 44% after 1 and 6 h of recovery. The IGF-IEbc mRNA level was unaffected. The present study shows that myogenin, MyoD, and MRF4 mRNA levels are transiently elevated in human skeletal muscle after a single bout of heavy-resistance training, supporting the idea that the MRFs may be involved in regulating hypertrophy and/or fiber-type transitions. The results also suggest that IGF-IEa expression may be downregulated at the mRNA level during the initial part of recovery from resistance exercise. hypertrophy; myogenin; mechanical load; satellite cells Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: H. Pilegaard, August Krogh Institute, Universitesparken 13, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark (E-mail: hpilegaard{at}aki.ku.dk ).