Resistance exercise acutely increases MHC and mixed muscle protein synthesis rates in 78–84 and 23–32 yr olds

We determined whether short-term weight-lifting exercise increases the synthesis rate of the major contractile proteins, myosin heavy chain (MHC), actin, and mixed muscle proteins in nonfrail elders and younger women and men. Fractional synthesis rates of mixed, MHC, and actin proteins were determined in seven healthy sedentary 23- to 32-yr-old and seven healthy 78- to 84-yr-old participants in paired studies done before and at the end of a 2-wk weight-lifting program. The in vivo rate of incorporation of 1-[13C]leucine into vastus lateralis MHC, actin, and mixed proteins was determined using a 14-h constant intravenous infusion of 1-[13C]leucine. Before exercise, the mixed and MHC fractional synthetic rates were lower in the older than in the younger participants ( P ≤ 0.04). Baseline actin protein synthesis rates were similar in the two groups ( P = not significant). Over a 2-wk period, participants completed ten 1- to 1.5-h weight-lifting exercise sessions: 2–3 sets per day of 9 exercises, 8–12 repetitions per set, at 60–90% of maximum voluntary muscle strength. At the end of exercise, MHC and mixed protein synthetic rates increased in the younger (88 and 121%) and older participants (105 and 182%; P < 0.001 vs. baseline). These findings indicate that MHC and mixed protein synthesis rates are reduced more than actin in advanced age. Similar to that of 23–32 yr olds, the vastus lateralis muscle in 78–84 yr olds retains the capacity to increase MHC and mixed protein synthesis rates in response to short-term resistance exercise.