Moderate-Intensity Strength Exercise to Exhaustion Results in More Pronounced Signaling Changes in Skeletal Muscles of Strength-Trained Compared With Untrained Individuals

Lysenko, EA, Popov, DV, Vepkhvadze, TF, Sharova, AP, and Vinogradova, OL. Moderate-intensity strength exercise to exhaustion results in more pronounced signaling changes in skeletal muscles of strength-trained compared with untrained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 1103-1112, 2020-The aim of our investigation was to compare the response pattern of signaling proteins and genes regulating protein synthesis and degradation in skeletal muscle after strength exercise sessions performed to volitional fatigue in strength-trained and untrained males. Eight healthy recreationally active males and 8 power-lifting athletes performed 4 sets of unilateral leg presses to exhaustion (65% 1 repetition maximum). Biopsy samples of m. vastus lateralis were obtained before, 1 and 5 hours after cessation of exercise. Phosphorylation of p70S6k(Thr389), 4EBP1(Thr37/46), and ACC(Ser79) increased, whereas phosphorylation of eEF2(Thr56) and FOXO1(Ser256) decreased only in the trained group after exercise. Expression of DDIT4, MURF1, and FOXO1 mRNAs increased and expression of MSTN mRNA decreased also only in the trained group after exercise. In conclusion, moderate-intensity strength exercise performed to volitional fatigue changed the phosphorylation status of mTORC1 downstream signaling molecules and markers of ubiquitin-proteasome system activation in trained individuals, suggesting activation of protein synthesis and degradation. In contrast to the trained group, signaling responses in the untrained group were considerably less pronounced. It can be assumed that the slowdown in muscle mass gain as the athletes increase in qualification cannot be associated with a decrease in the sensitivity of systems regulating protein metabolism, but possibly with inadequate intake or assimilation of nutrients necessary for anabolism. Perhaps, the intake of highly digestible protein or protein-carbohydrate dietary supplements could contribute to the increase in muscle mass in strength athletes.