Open AccessContraction mode itself does not determine the level of mTORC1 activity in rat skeletal muscle
Author(s) -
Ato Satoru,
Makanae Yuhei,
Kido Kohei,
Fujita Satoshi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12976
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , contraction (grammar) , concentric , muscle contraction , eccentric , medicine , skeletal muscle , chemistry , endocrinology , physics , mathematics , geometry , quantum mechanics
Resistance training with eccentric contraction has been shown to augment muscle hypertrophy more than other contraction modes do (i.e., concentric and isometric contraction). However, the molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle contraction mode on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 ( mTORC 1) signaling using a standardized force‐time integral (load (weight) × contraction time). Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups: eccentric contraction, concentric contraction, and isometric contraction. The right gastrocnemius muscle was exercised via percutaneous electrical stimulation‐induced maximal contraction. In experiment 1, different modes of muscle contraction were exerted using the same number of reps in all groups, while in experiment 2, muscle contractions were exerted using a standardized force‐time integral. Muscle samples were obtained immediately and 3 h after exercise. Phosphorylation of molecules associated with mTORC 1 activity was assessed using western blot analysis. In experiment 1, the force‐time integral was significantly different among contraction modes with a higher force‐time integral for eccentric contraction compared to that for other contraction modes ( P < 0.05). In addition, the force‐time integral was higher for concentric contraction compared to that for isometric contraction ( P < 0.05). Similarly, p70S6K phosphorylation level was higher for eccentric contraction than for other modes of contraction ( P < 0.05), and concentric contraction was higher than isometric contraction ( P < 0.05) 3 h after exercise. In experiment 2, under the same force‐time integral, p70S6K (Thr389) and 4E‐BP1 phosphorylation levels were similar among contraction modes 3 h after exercise. Our results suggest that mTORC 1 activity is not determined by differences in muscle contraction mode itself. Instead, mTORC 1 activity is determined by differences in the force‐time integral during muscle contraction.