Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

Combining endurance and strength training in the same session has been reported to reduce the anabolic response to the latter form of exercise. The underlying mechanism, based primarily on results from rodent muscle, is proposed to involve AMPK-dependent inhibition of mTORC1 signaling. This hypothesis was tested in eight trained male subjects who in a randomized order performed either resistance exercise only (R) or interval cycling followed by resistance exercise (ER). Biopsies taken from the vastus lateralis before and after endurance exercise and repeatedly after resistance exercise were assessed for glycogen content, kinase activity, protein phosphorylation and gene expression. Mixed muscle fractional synthetic rate was measured at rest and during 3h of recovery using the stable isotope technique. In ER, AMPK activity was elevated immediately after both endurance and resistance exercise (~90%, P<0.05) but was unchanged in R. Thr389 phosphorylation of S6K1 was increased several-fold immediately after exercise (P<0.05) in both trials and increased further throughout recovery. After 90 and 180 min recovery, S6K1 activity was elevated (~55% and ~110%, respectively, P<0.05) and eEF2 phosphorylation was reduced (~55%, P<0.05) with no difference between trials. In contrast, markers for protein catabolism were differently influenced by the two modes of exercise; ER induced a significant increase in gene and protein expression of MuRF1 (P<0.05), which was not observed following R exercise only. In conclusion, cycling-induced elevation in AMPK activity does not inhibit mTORC1 signaling after subsequent resistance exercise, but may instead interfere with the hypertrophic response by influencing key components in protein breakdown.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the specific effect of leucine on mTORC1 signalling and amino acid metabolism in connection with resistance exercise. Comparisons were made between ingestion of supplements with and without leucine. Eight young women performed leg press exercise on 2 occasions. In randomized order they received either an aqueous solution of essential amino acids with leucine (EAA) or without leucine (EAA-Leu), given as small boluses throughout the experiment. Muscle biopsies were taken after an overnight fast before exercise and 1 and 3 h postexercise and samples of blood were taken repeatedly during the experiment. Plasma and muscle concentrations of leucine rose 60%-140% (p < 0.05) with EAA and fell 35%-45% (p < 0.05) with the EAA-Leu supplement. In the EAA-trial, plasma and muscle levels of tyrosine (not present in the supplement) and the sum of the EAA were 15%-25% (p < 0.05) lower during recovery. Phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6k was elevated to a larger extent following 1 h of recovery with leucine in the supplement (120% vs. 49% (p < 0.05) and 59- vs. 8-fold (p < 0.05) for EAA and EAA-Leu, respectively). The levels of MAFbx and MuRF-1 mRNA and of the corresponding proteins were not significantly altered after 3 h recovery from exercise. In conclusion, the presence of leucine in the supplement enhances the stimulatory effect on mTORC1 signalling and reduces the level of tyrosine and the sum of the EAA in muscle and plasma, suggesting a stimulation of protein synthesis and (or) inhibition of breakdown, leading to improvement in net protein balance.

Protein synthesis is stimulated by resistance exercise and intake of amino acids, in particular leucine. Moreover, activation of mTORC1 signaling by leucine is potentiated by the presence of other essential amino acids (EAA). However, the contribution of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to this effect is yet unknown. Here we compare the stimulatory role of leucine, BCAA and EAA ingestion on anabolic signaling following exercise. Accordingly, eight trained volunteers completed four sessions of resistance exercise during which they ingested either placebo, leucine, BCAA or EAA (including the BCAA) in random order. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest, immediately after exercise and following 90 and 180 min of recovery. Following 90 min of recovery the activity of S6K1 was greater than at rest in all four trials (Placebo<Leucine<BCAA<EAA; P<0.05 time x supplement), with a 9-fold increase in the EAA trial. At this same time-point phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 at Thr^37/46 was unaffected by supplementation, while that of Thr⁴⁶ alone exhibited a pattern similar to that of S6K1, being 18% higher with EAA than BCAA. However, after 180 min of recovery this difference between EAA and BCAA had disappeared, although with both these supplements the increases were still higher than with leucine (40%, P<0.05) and placebo (100%, P<0.05). In summary, EAA ingestion appears to stimulate translation initiation more effectively than the other supplements, although the results also suggest that this effect is primarily attributable to the BCAA.