Ferrando AA; Tipton KD; Doyle D; Phillips SM; Cortiella J; Wolfe RR

Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA.

Am J Physiol, 275(5 Pt 1):E864-71 1998 Nov

 

Abstract:

 

Testosterone administration (T) increases lean body mass and muscle protein synthesis. 

 

We investigated the effects of short-term T on leg muscle protein kinetics and transport of selected amino acids by use of a model based on arteriovenous sampling and muscle biopsy. Fractional synthesis (FSR) and breakdown (FBR) rates of skeletal muscle protein were also directly calculated.

 

Seven healthy men were studied before and 5 days after intramuscular injection of 200 mg of testosterone enanthate. Protein synthesis increased twofold after injection (P < 0.05), whereas protein breakdown was unchanged. FSR and FBR calculations were in accordance, because FSR increased twofold (P < 0.05) without a concomitant change in FBR. Net balance between synthesis and breakdown became more positive with both methodologies (P < 0.05) and was not different from zero. T injection increased arteriovenous essential and nonessential nitrogen balance across the leg (P < 0.05) in the fasted state, without increasing amino acid transport. Thus T administration leads to an increased net protein synthesis and reutilization of intracellular amino acids in skeletal muscle.