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Cited by 159Muscle Physiology and DisordersMuscle metabolism and nutritionHormonal and reproductive studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 61 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A cellular memory mechanism aids overload hypertrophy in muscle long after an episodic exposure to anabolic steroids

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Egner, Ingrid M., Bruusgaard, Jo C., Eftestøl, Einar, Gundersen, Kristian·2013·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264457PMC PMC3892473
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Abstract

Key points Training studio folklore suggests that previous strength training, with or without the use of anabolic steroids facilitates re‐acquisition of muscle mass even after long intervening periods of inactivity. This ‘muscle memory’ has previously been attributed to motor learning, but our data suggest the existence of a cellular memory residing in the muscle fibres themselves. Muscle fibres have multiple nuclei, and the number of nuclei increases when muscle mass increases. When mice were briefly treated with steroids the muscle mass and number of nuclei increased. The drug was subsequently withdrawn for 3 months and the muscle mass returned to normal, but the excess cell nuclei persisted. When such muscles were subjected to overload they grew by 30% over 6 days while controls grew insignificantly. Our data suggest that previous strength training might be beneficial later in life, and that a brief exposure to anabolic steroids might have long lasting performance‐enhancing effects. Abstract Previous strength training with or without the use of anabolic steroids facilitates subsequent re‐acquisition of muscle mass even after long intervening periods of inactivity. Based on in vivo and ex vivo microscopy we here propose a cellular memory mechanism residing in the muscle cells. Female mice were treated with testosterone propionate for 14 days, inducing a 66% increase in the number of myonuclei and a 77% increase in fibre cross‐sectional area. Three weeks after removing the drug, fibre size was decreased to the same level as in sham treated animals, but the number of nuclei remained elevated for at least 3 months (>10% of the mouse lifespan). At this time, when the myonuclei‐rich muscles were exposed to overload‐exercise for 6 days, the fibre cross‐sectional area increased by 31% while control muscles did not grow significantly. We suggest that the lasting, elevated number of myonuclei constitutes a cellular memory facilitating subsequent muscle overload hypertrophy. Our findings might have consequences for the exclusion time of doping offenders. Since the ability to generate new myonuclei is impaired in the elderly our data also invites speculation that it might be beneficial to perform strength training when young in order to benefit in senescence.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. 10.1152/ajpcell.00207.2012 · DOI
  2. Puckelwartz M, 2011, Emery‐Drefuss muscular dystrophy, Handb Clin Neurol, 101, 156

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Metadata

Authors
Egner, I. M., Bruusgaard, J. C., Eftestøl, E., & Gundersen, K.
Affiliations
University of Oslo (NO)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-11-22
Volume
591
Issue
24
Pages
6221-6230
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2013.264457
PMC
PMC3892473
OpenAlex
W2107574257
Cited by
159
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
FWCI
3.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Norges Forskningsråd
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
muscle memory, myonuclei, anabolic steroids, testosterone propionate, muscle hypertrophy, muscle fiber cross-sectional area, resistance training, doping, aging, motor learning
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Nucleus, Physical Exertion, Female, Hypertrophy, Testosterone, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Mice

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