| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Thomas W. Storer, Ph.D., Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 East 120th Street, Los Angeles, California 90059. E-mail: tostorer{at}cdrewu.edu.
Testosterone supplementation in men increases fat-free mass, but whether measures of muscle performance, such as maximal voluntary strength, power, fatigability, or specific tension, are improved has not been determined. Furthermore, the extent to which these measures of muscle performance are related to testosterone dose or circulating concentration is unknown. To examine the relationship between testosterone dose and muscle performance, 61 healthy, eugonadal young men (aged 18–35 yr) were randomized to 1 of 5 groups, each receiving a long-acting GnRH agonist to suppress endogenous testosterone production plus weekly injections of 25, 50, 125, 300, or 600 mg testosterone enanthate for 20 wk. These doses produced mean nadir testosterone concentrations of 253, 306, 542, 1345, and 2370 ng/dl, respectively. Maximal voluntary muscle strength and fatigability were determined by a seated leg press exercise. Leg power was measured using a validated leg power instrument. Specific tension was estimated by the ratio of one repetition maximum muscle strength to thigh muscle volume determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Testosterone administration was associated with a dose-dependent increase in leg press strength and leg power, but muscle fatigability did not change significantly during treatment. Changes in leg press strength were significantly correlated with total (r = 0.46; P = 0.0005) and free (r = 0.38; P = 0.006) testosterone as was leg power (total testosterone: r = 0.38; P = 0.007; free testosterone: r = 0.35; P = 0.015), but not muscle fatigability. Serum IGF-I concentrations were not significantly correlated with leg strength, power, or fatigability. Specific tension did not change significantly at any dose. We conclude that the effects of testosterone on muscle performance are specific; it increases maximal voluntary strength and leg power, but does not affect fatigability or specific tension. The changes in leg strength and power are dependent on testosterone dose and circulating testosterone concentrations and exhibit a log-linear relationship with serum total and free testosterone. Failure to observe a significant testosterone dose relationship with fatigability suggests that testosterone does not affect this component of muscle performance and that different components of muscle performance are regulated by different mechanisms.
This work was supported by NIH Grants 1RO1-AG-14369 and 1RO1-DK-59627-01, FDA Grant ODP 1397, General Clinical Research Center Grant MO1-RR-00425, and RCMI Grants P20-RR-11145-01 (RCMI Clinical Research Initiative) and G12RR03026.
R.C. is the Grancell-Burns Chair in the Rehabilitative Sciences at the Harbor-University of California-Los Angeles Research and Education Institute.
Abbreviations: ANCOVA, Analysis of covariance; BMI, body mass index; GCRC, General Clinical Research Center; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; 1-RM, one repetition maximum.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  P. E. Knapp, T. W. Storer, K. L. Herbst, A. B. Singh, C. Dzekov, J. Dzekov, M. LaValley, A. Zhang, J. Ulloor, and S. Bhasin Effects of a supraphysiological dose of testosterone on physical function, muscle performance, mood, and fatigue in men with HIV-associated weight loss Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2008; 294(6): E1135 - E1143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. A. Burnes, S. J. Kolker, J. F. Danielson, R. Y. Walder, and K. A. Sluka Enhanced muscle fatigue occurs in male but not female ASIC3-/- mice Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2008; 294(4): R1347 - R1355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Aizawa, M. Iemitsu, T. Otsuki, S. Maeda, T. Miyauchi, and N. Mesaki Sex differences in steroidogenesis in skeletal muscle following a single bout of exercise in rats J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2008; 104(1): 67 - 74. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Frederick and M. G. Haselton Why Is Muscularity Sexy? Tests of the Fitness Indicator Hypothesis Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 2007; 33(8): 1167 - 1183. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Aizawa, M. Iemitsu, S. Maeda, S. Jesmin, T. Otsuki, C. N. Mowa, T. Miyauchi, and N. Mesaki Expression of steroidogenic enzymes and synthesis of sex steroid hormones from DHEA in skeletal muscle of rats Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2007; 292(2): E577 - E584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Kvorning, M. Andersen, K. Brixen, P. Schjerling, C. Suetta, and K. Madsen Suppression of testosterone does not blunt mRNA expression of myoD, myogenin, IGF, myostatin or androgen receptor post strength training in humans J. Physiol., January 15, 2007; 578(2): 579 - 593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. B. Rapuri, J. C. Gallagher, and L. M. Smith Smoking Is a Risk Factor for Decreased Physical Performance in Elderly Women J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., January 1, 2007; 62(1): 93 - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Kvorning, M. Andersen, K. Brixen, and K. Madsen Suppression of endogenous testosterone production attenuates the response to strength training: a randomized, placebo-controlled, and blinded intervention study Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2006; 291(6): E1325 - E1332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.-M. Axell, H. E. MacLean, D. R. Plant, L. J. Harcourt, J. A. Davis, M. Jimenez, D. J. Handelsman, G. S. Lynch, and J. D. Zajac Continuous testosterone administration prevents skeletal muscle atrophy and enhances resistance to fatigue in orchidectomized male mice Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 2006; 291(3): E506 - E516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J. Handelsman The Rationale for Banning Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Estrogen Blockers in Sport J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2006; 91(5): 1646 - 1653. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. G. Giannoulis, P. H. Sonksen, M. Umpleby, L. Breen, C. Pentecost, M. Whyte, C. V. McMillan, C. Bradley, and F. C. Martin The Effects of Growth Hormone and/or Testosterone in Healthy Elderly Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2006; 91(2): 477 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Braun, L. Gerson, T. Hagobian, D. Grow, and S. R. Chipkin No effect of short-term testosterone manipulation on exercise substrate metabolism in men J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2005; 99(5): 1930 - 1937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. W. Storer, L. J. Woodhouse, F. Sattler, A. B. Singh, E. T. Schroeder, K. Beck, M. Padero, P. Mac, K. E. Yarasheski, P. Geurts, et al. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Nandrolone Decanoate in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men with Mild to Moderate Weight Loss with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone as Active Reference Treatment J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2005; 90(8): 4474 - 4482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Troosters, R. Casaburi, R. Gosselink, and M. Decramer Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2005; 172(1): 19 - 38. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Chen, J. Kim, and J. T. Dalton Discovery and Therapeutic Promise of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators Mol. Interv., June 1, 2005; 5(3): 173 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Laghi, A. Antonescu-Turcu, E. Collins, J. Segal, D. E. Tobin, A. Jubran, and M. J. Tobin Hypogonadism in Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prevalence and Quality of Life Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2005; 171(7): 728 - 733. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Laghi, W. E. Langbein, A. Antonescu-Turcu, A. Jubran, C. Bammert, and M. J. Tobin Respiratory and Skeletal Muscles in Hypogonadal Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 15, 2005; 171(6): 598 - 605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. T. Page, J. K. Amory, F. D. Bowman, B. D. Anawalt, A. M. Matsumoto, W. J. Bremner, and J. L. Tenover Exogenous Testosterone (T) Alone or with Finasteride Increases Physical Performance, Grip Strength, and Lean Body Mass in Older Men with Low Serum T J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2005; 90(3): 1502 - 1510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. H. Choi, P. B. Gray, T. W. Storer, O. M. Calof, L. Woodhouse, A. B. Singh, C. Padero, R. P. Mac, I. Sinha-Hikim, R. Shen, et al. Effects of Testosterone Replacement in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Women with Weight Loss J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2005; 90(3): 1531 - 1541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Jasuja, P. Ramaraj, R. P. Mac, A. B. Singh, T. W. Storer, J. Artaza, A. Miller, R. Singh, W. E. Taylor, M. L. Lee, et al. {Delta}-4-Androstene-3,17-Dione Binds Androgen Receptor, Promotes Myogenesis in Vitro, and Increases Serum Testosterone Levels, Fat-Free Mass, and Muscle Strength in Hypogonadal Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 855 - 863. [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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. E. Borst, J. H. Lee, and C. F. Conover Inhibition of 5{alpha}-reductase blocks prostate effects of testosterone without blocking anabolic effects Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2005; 288(1): E222 - E227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Casaburi, S. Bhasin, L. Cosentino, J. Porszasz, A. Somfay, M. I. Lewis, M. Fournier, and T. W. Storer Effects of Testosterone and Resistance Training in Men with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 15, 2004; 170(8): 870 - 878. [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]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
