This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sheffield-Moore, M. Articles by Ferrando, A. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sheffield-Moore, M. Articles by Ferrando, A. A.

Short-Term Oxandrolone Administration Stimulates Net Muscle Protein Synthesis in Young Men¹

Departments of Surgery (M.S.-M., S.E.W., D.N.H., R.R.W., A.A.F.), Anesthesiology (R.R.W.), and Internal Medicine (R.J.U., J.J.), University of Texas Medical Branch, and Shriners Burn Hospital for Children (D.N.H., R.R.W.), Galveston, Texas 77550; and the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Olympic Analytical Laboratory (D.H.C.), Los Angeles, California 90025

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Melinda Sheffield-Moore, Ph.D., Metabolism Unit, Shriners Burns Institute, 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550. E-mail: melmoore{at}utmb.edu

Short term administration of testosterone stimulates net protein synthesis in healthy men. We investigated whether oxandrolone [Oxandrin (OX)], a synthetic analog of testosterone, would improve net muscle protein synthesis and transport of amino acids across the leg. Six healthy men [22 ± 1 (±SE) yr] were studied in the postabsorptive state before and after 5 days of oral OX (15 mg/day). Muscle protein synthesis and breakdown were determined by a three-compartment model using stable isotopic data obtained from femoral arterio-venous sampling and muscle biopsy. The precursor-product method was used to determine muscle protein fractional synthetic rates. Fractional breakdown rates were also directly calculated. Total messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) concentrations of skeletal muscle insulin-like growth factor I and androgen receptor (AR) were determined using RT-PCR. Model-derived muscle protein synthesis increased from 53.5 ± 3 to 68.3 ± 5 (mean ± SE) nmol/min·100 mL/leg (P < 0.05), whereas protein breakdown was unchanged. Inward transport of amino acids remained unchanged with OX, whereas outward transport decreased (P < 0.05). The fractional synthetic rate increased 44% (P < 0.05) after OX administration, with no change in fractional breakdown rate. Therefore, the net balance between synthesis and breakdown became more positive with both methodologies (P < 0.05) and was not different from zero. Further, RT-PCR showed that OX administration significantly increased mRNA concentrations of skeletal muscle AR without changing insulin-like growth factor I mRNA concentrations. We conclude that short term OX administration stimulated an increase in skeletal muscle protein synthesis and improved intracellular reutilization of amino acids. The mechanism for this stimulation may be related to an OX-induced increase in AR expression in skeletal muscle.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Paddon-Jones, K. R Short, W. W Campbell, E. Volpi, and R. R Wolfe Role of dietary protein in the sarcopenia of aging Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1562S - 1566S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Paddon-Jones, M. Sheffield-Moore, M. G. Cree, S. J. Hewlings, A. Aarsland, R. R. Wolfe, and A. A. Ferrando Atrophy and Impaired Muscle Protein Synthesis during Prolonged Inactivity and Stress J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 4836 - 4841. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A M Solomon and P M G Bouloux Modifying muscle mass - the endocrine perspective. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 191(2): 349 - 360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sheffield-Moore, D. Paddon-Jones, S. L. Casperson, C. Gilkison, E. Volpi, S. E. Wolf, J. Jiang, J. I. Rosenblatt, and R. J. Urban Androgen Therapy Induces Muscle Protein Anabolism in Older Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2006; 91(10): 3844 - 3849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Balagopal, R. Olney, D. Darmaun, E. Mougey, M. Dokler, G. Sieck, and D. Hammond Oxandrolone enhances skeletal muscle myosin synthesis and alters global gene expression profile in Duchenne muscular dystrophy Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2006; 290(3): E530 - E539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Vlahopoulos, W. E. Zimmer, G. Jenster, N. S. Belaguli, S. P. Balk, A. O. Brinkmann, R. B. Lanz, V. C. Zoumpourlis, and R. J. Schwartz Recruitment of the Androgen Receptor via Serum Response Factor Facilitates Expression of a Myogenic Gene J. Biol. Chem., March 4, 2005; 280(9): 7786 - 7792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bhasin, L. Woodhouse, R. Casaburi, A. B. Singh, R. P. Mac, M. Lee, K. E. Yarasheski, I. Sinha-Hikim, C. Dzekov, J. Dzekov, et al. Older Men Are as Responsive as Young Men to the Anabolic Effects of Graded Doses of Testosterone on the Skeletal Muscle J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 678 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Christiansen, C. H. Gravholt, S. Fisker, N. Moller, M. Andersen, B. Svenstrup, P. Bennett, P. Ivarsen, J. S. Christiansen, and J. O. L. Jorgensen Very short term dehydroepiandrosterone treatment in female adrenal failure: impact on carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism Eur. J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2005; 152(1): 77 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Sinha-Hikim, W. E. Taylor, N. F. Gonzalez-Cadavid, W. Zheng, and S. Bhasin Androgen Receptor in Human Skeletal Muscle and Cultured Muscle Satellite Cells: Up-Regulation by Androgen Treatment J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2004; 89(10): 5245 - 5255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. T. Schroeder, L. Zheng, K. E. Yarasheski, D. Qian, Y. Stewart, C. Flores, C. Martinez, M. Terk, and F. R. Sattler Treatment with oxandrolone and the durability of effects in older men J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2004; 96(3): 1055 - 1062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Evans Current Concepts in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2004; 32(2): 534 - 542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wang, D. H. Catlin, L. M. Demers, B. Starcevic, and R. S. Swerdloff Measurement of Total Serum Testosterone in Adult Men: Comparison of Current Laboratory Methods Versus Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2004; 89(2): 534 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Lee, R. W. Thompson, J. M. McClung, and J. A. Carson Regulation of androgen receptor expression at the onset of functional overload in rat plantaris muscle Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2003; 285(5): R1076 - R1085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Marcell Review Article: Sarcopenia: Causes, Consequences, and Preventions J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., October 1, 2003; 58(10): M911 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Estrada, A. Espinosa, M. Muller, and E. Jaimovich Testosterone Stimulates Intracellular Calcium Release and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Via a G Protein-Coupled Receptor in Skeletal Muscle Cells Endocrinology, August 1, 2003; 144(8): 3586 - 3597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. T. Schroeder, M. Terk, and F. R. Sattler Androgen therapy improves muscle mass and strength but not muscle quality: results from two studies Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2003; 285(1): E16 - E24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Sinha-Hikim, S. M. Roth, M. I. Lee, and S. Bhasin Testosterone-induced muscle hypertrophy is associated with an increase in satellite cell number in healthy, young men Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, July 1, 2003; 285(1): E197 - E205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Lee, J. McClung, G. A. Hand, and J. A. Carson Overload-induced androgen receptor expression in the aged rat hindlimb receiving nandrolone decanoate J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 1153 - 1161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. R. Sattler, E. T. Schroeder, M. P. Dube, S. V. Jaque, C. Martinez, P. J. Blanche, S. Azen, and R. M. Krauss Metabolic effects of nandrolone decanoate and resistance training in men with HIV Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2002; 283(6): E1214 - E1222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Rutkove, R. A. Parker, R. A. Nardin, C. E. Connolly, K. J. Felice, and E. M. Raynor A pilot randomized trial of oxandrolone in inclusion body myositis Neurology, April 9, 2002; 58(7): 1081 - 1087. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Kuhn Anabolic Steroids Recent Prog. Horm. Res., January 1, 2002; 57(1): 411 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Marcell, S. M. Harman, R. J. Urban, D. D. Metz, B. D. Rodgers, and M. R. Blackman Comparison of GH, IGF-I, and testosterone with mRNA of receptors and myostatin in skeletal muscle in older men Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2001; 281(6): E1159 - E1164. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Basaria, J. T. Wahlstrom, and A. S. Dobs Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Diseases J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2001; 86(11): 5108 - 5117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Vermeulen Androgen Replacement Therapy in the Aging Male--A Critical Evaluation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2380 - 2390. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Y. Hayes, R. J. Urban, J. Jiang, T. J. Marcell, K. Helgeson, and N. Mauras Recombinant Human Growth Hormone and Recombinant Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Diminish the Catabolic Effects of Hypogonadism in Man: Metabolic and Molecular Effects J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 2211 - 2219. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. M. Bamman, J. R. Shipp, J. Jiang, B. A. Gower, G. R. Hunter, A. Goodman, C. L. McLafferty Jr., and R. J. Urban Mechanical load increases muscle IGF-I and androgen receptor mRNA concentrations in humans Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2001; 280(3): E383 - E390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Mauras, K. O. O’Brien, K. O. Klein, and V. Hayes Estrogen Suppression in Males: Metabolic Effects J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2000; 85(7): 2370 - 2377. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Sheffield-Moore, R. R. Wolfe, D. C. Gore, S. E. Wolf, D. M. Ferrer, and A. A. Ferrando Combined effects of hyperaminoacidemia and oxandrolone on skeletal muscle protein synthesis Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2000; 278(2): E273 - E279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. B. Rasmussen, E. Volpi, D. C. Gore, and R. R. Wolfe Androstenedione Does Not Stimulate Muscle Protein Anabolism in Young Healthy Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 55 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. A. Ferrando, M. Sheffield-Moore, C. W. Yeckel, C. Gilkison, J. Jiang, A. Achacosa, S. A. Lieberman, K. Tipton, R. R. Wolfe, and R. J. Urban Testosterone administration to older men improves muscle function: molecular and physiological mechanisms Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2002; 282(3): E601 - E607. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]