GH Administration Changes Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms in Skeletal Muscle But Does Not Augment Muscle Strength or Hypertrophy, Either Alone or Combined with Resistance Exercise Training in Healthy Elderly Men
Kai Henrik Wiborg Lange,
Jesper Løvind Andersen,
Nina Beyer,
Fredrik Isaksson,
Benny Larsson,
Michael Højby Rasmussen,
Anders Juul,
Jens Bülow and
Michael Kjær
Sports Medicine Research Unit (K.H.W.L., N.B., F.I., M.K.), Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark; Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre (K.H.W.L., J.L.A.), Department of Molecular Muscle Biology, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Team Danmark Test Center (B.L.), Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark; Clinical Drug Development (M.H.R.), Novo Nordisk, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark; Department of Growth and Reproduction (A.J.), Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; and Department of Clinical Physiology (J.B.), Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Kai H. W. Lange, M.D., Sports Medicine Research Unit, Building 8, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. E-mail: klange{at}dadlnet.dk
Abstract
GH administration, either alone or combined with resistanceexercise training (RT), has attracted interest as a means ofincreasing muscle mass and strength in the elderly. In the presentstudy, 31 healthy, elderly men [age, 74 ± 1 yr (mean± SEM)] were assigned to either RT [3 sessions/wk, 3–5sets of 8–12 repetition maximum (RM)/session] + placebo(n = 8), RT + GH (n = 8), GH (n = 8), or placebo (n = 7) ina randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded (RT + placeboand RT + GH) or single-blinded (GH or placebo) design. Measurementsof: 1) isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength; 2) quadricepsmuscle power; 3) quadriceps muscle fiber type, size, and myosinheavy chain (MHC) composition; 4) quadriceps cross-sectionalarea (CSA) [nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI)]; 5) bodycomposition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning); and6) GH-related serum markers were performed at baseline and after12 wk. The final GH dose was 1.77 ± 0.18 IU·d-1(7.2 ± 0.8 µg·kg-1·d-1). GH alonehad no effect on isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength, power,CSA, or fiber size. However, a substantial increase in MHC 2Xisoform was observed with GH administration alone, and thismay be regarded as a change into a more youthful MHC composition,possibly induced by the rejuvenating of systemic IGF-I levels.RT + placebo caused substantial increases in quadriceps isokineticstrength, power, and CSA; but these RT induced improvementswere not further augmented by additional GH administration.In the RT + GH group, there was a significant decrease in MHC1 and 2X isoforms, whereas MHC 2A increased. RT, therefore,seems to overrule the changes in MHC composition induced byGH administration alone. Changes in body composition confirmedprevious reports of decreased fat mass, increased fat-free mass,and unchanged bone mineral content with GH administration. Ahigh incidence of side effects was reported. Our results donot support a role for GH as a means of increasing muscle strengthor mass, either alone or combined with RT, in healthy elderlymen; although GH administration alone may induce changes inMHC composition.
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7.2 ± 0.8 µg·kg-1·d-1). GH alone had no effect on isokinetic quadriceps muscle strength, power, CSA, or fiber size. However, a substantial increase in MHC 2X isoform was observed with GH administration alone, and this may be regarded as a change into a more youthful MHC composition, possibly induced by the rejuvenating of systemic IGF-I levels. RT + placebo caused substantial increases in quadriceps isokinetic strength, power, and CSA; but these RT induced improvements were not further augmented by additional GH administration. In the RT + GH group, there was a significant decrease in MHC 1 and 2X isoforms, whereas MHC 2A increased. RT, therefore, seems to overrule the changes in MHC composition induced by GH administration alone. Changes in body composition confirmed previous reports of decreased fat mass, increased fat-free mass, and unchanged bone mineral content with GH administration. A high incidence of side effects was reported. Our results do not support a role for GH as a means of increasing muscle strength or mass, either alone or combined with RT, in healthy elderly men; although GH administration alone may induce changes in MHC composition. 
