The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Advance Access originally published online on May 29, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2009 64A(9):940-948; doi:10.1093/gerona/glp068
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Myostatin Inhibition Enhances the Effects of Exercise on Performance and Metabolic Outcomes in Aged Mice
Cardiovascular, Metabolic & Endocrine Diseases, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Groton, Connecticut
Address correspondence to Nathan K. LeBrasseur, PT, PhD, Cardiovascular, Metabolic & Endocrine Diseases, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Eastern Point Road, MS 8220-3001, Groton, CT 06340. Email: nathan.lebrasseur{at}pfizer.com
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The objective of this study was to examine the effects of short-term exercise training, myostatin inhibition (PF-354), and exercise + PF-354, all relative to a vehicle control, on performance and metabolic measures in 24-month-old mice. At study termination, PF-354–treated mice exhibited significantly greater muscle weights. Performance measures revealed that exercise + PF-354 increased treadmill running time and distance to exhaustion (more than twofold) and increased habitual activity. Measures of strength were not different; however, all treatment groups demonstrated more than 30% reductions in muscle fatigue. Metabolic measures showed that basal metabolic rates were higher in PF-354– and exercise + PF-354–treated mice, and exercise and exercise + PF-354 groups exhibited significantly greater insulin sensitivity. PF-354 was associated with decreased Smad3 phosphorylation and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1
expression and, similar to exercise, decreased MuRF-1. The data suggest that the combination of exercise training and myostatin blockade may significantly improve physical function and whole-body metabolism in older individuals.
Keywords Sarcopenia; Insulin resistance; Strength; Exercise capacity
Received: February 23, 2009; Accepted: April 24, 2009