Wnt/β-Catenin and Androgen Receptor Signaling Increase Following High Load Resistance Exercise Without Elevations in Serum/Muscle Testosterone or Androgen Receptor Content

Authors

Thomas D. Cardaci, Baylor UniversityFollow
Steven B. Machek, Baylor UniversityFollow
Dylan T. Wilburn, Baylor UniversityFollow
Jeffery L. Heileson, Baylor UniversityFollow
Darryn S. Willoughby, University of Mary Hardin - BaylorFollow

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was 1) to determine the effect of single bouts of volume- and intensity-equated low (LL) and high load (HL) full-body resistance exercise (RE) on AR-DNA binding, serum/muscle testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, muscle androgen receptor (AR), and AR-DNA binding and 2) to determine the effect of RE on sarcoplasmic and nucleoplasmic β-catenin concentrations in order to determine their impact on mediating AR-DNA binding in the absence/presence of serum/muscle androgen and AR protein. METHODS: In a cross-over design, ten resistance-trained males completed volume- and intensity-equated LL and HL full-body RE. Blood and muscle samples were collected at pre-, 3h-, and 24h post-exercise. Separate 2x3 factorial ANOVAs with repeated measures and pairwise comparisons with a Bonferroni adjustment were used to analyze main effects. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in muscle AR, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or serum total testosterone in either condition (p >.05). Serum free testosterone was significantly decreased 3h post-exercise and remained significantly less than baseline 24h post-exercise in both conditions (p.05). Moreover, sarcoplasmic β-catenin was significantly greater in HL (p.05). CONCLUSION: Increases in AR-DNA binding in response to HL indicates AR signaling may be load-dependent. Furthermore, despite the lack of increase in serum and muscle androgens or AR content following HL RE, elevations in AR-DNA binding with elevated sarcoplasmic β-catenin suggests β-catenin may be facilitating this response.

Recommended Citation

Cardaci, Thomas D.; Machek, Steven B.; Wilburn, Dylan T.; Heileson, Jeffery L.; and Willoughby, Darryn S. (2021) "Wnt/β-Catenin and Androgen Receptor Signaling Increase Following High Load Resistance Exercise Without Elevations in Serum/Muscle Testosterone or Androgen Receptor Content," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 13, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss13/1