title: Combined whole-body vibration, resistance exercise, and sustained vascular occlusion increases PGC-1α and VEGF mRNA abundances.
abstract: We previously reported that high load resistance exercise with superimposed whole-body vibration and sustained vascular occlusion (vibroX) markedly improves cycling endurance capacity, increases capillary-to-fibre ratio and skeletal muscle oxidative enzyme activity in untrained young women. These findings are intriguing, since increases in oxidative muscle phenotype and endurance capacity are typically induced by endurance but not heavy resistance exercise. Here, we tested the hypothesis that vibroX activates genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis. Eight healthy, recreationally resistance-trained young men performed either vibroX or resistance exercise (RES) in a randomised, cross-over design. Needle biopsies (M. vastus lateralis) were obtained at rest and 3 h post-exercise. Changes in relative gene expression levels were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR. After vibroX, vascular endothelial growth factor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α mRNA abundances increased to 2- and 4.4-fold, respectively, but did not significantly change above resting values after RES. Other genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis were not affected by either exercise modality. While vibroX increased the expression of hexokinase II, xanthine dehydrogenase, and manganese superoxide dismutase mRNA, there were no changes in these transcripts after RES. This study demonstrates that high load resistance exercise with superimposed whole-body vibration and sustained vascular occlusion activates metabolic and angiogenic gene programs, which are usually activated after endurance but not resistance exercise. Thus, targeted modification of high load resistance exercise by vibration and vascular occlusion might represent a novel strategy to induce endurance-type muscle adaptations.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Flurin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Item
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nocito
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thöny
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bächler
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Boutellier
authors.forename: Roland H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toigo
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001706:Biopsy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D063269:Mitochondrial Turnover / Q000235:genetics; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D010807:Physical Endurance; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055070:Resistance Training; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A