PURPOSE
To determine whether (hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha) HIF-1α and REDD1 mRNA is expressed differently in REFR compared to low-intensity resistance exercise with no blood flow restriction (CONTROL). Secondly, to determine if low-intensity resistance exercise is able to induce changes in mRNA expression of several anabolic and catabolic genes as typically seen with high-intensity resistance exercise.
METHODS
Six subjects were studied at baseline and 3h after a bout of leg resistance exercise (20% 1RM) in REFR and CONTROL subjects. Each subject participated in both groups with 3 weeks separating each visit. Muscle biopsy samples were analyzed for mRNA expression using qRT-PCR.
RESULTS
Our primary finding was that there were no differences between CONTROL and REFR for any of the selected genes at 3h post-exercise (P> 0.05). However, low-intensity resistance exercise increased HIF-1α, p21, MyoD and muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) mRNA expression and decreased REDD1 and Myostatin mRNA expression in both groups (P< 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Low-intensity resistance exercise can alter skeletal muscle mRNA expression of several genes associated with muscle growth and remodeling such as REDD1, HIF-1α, MyoD, MuRF1, and Myostatin. Further, the results from REFR and CONTROL were similar indicating that the changes in early post-exercise gene expression were due to the low-intensity resistance exercise bout and not blood flow restriction.