Resistance training diminishes mitochondrial adaptations to subsequent endurance training in healthy untrained men

Abstract

We investigated the effects of performing a period of resistance training (RT) on the performance and molecular adaptations to a subsequent period of endurance training (ET). Twenty-five young adults were divided into an RT+ET group (n = 13), which underwent 7 weeks of RT followed by 7 weeks of ET, and an ET-only group (n = 12), which performed 7 weeks of ET. Body composition, endurance performance and muscle biopsies were collected before RT (T1, baseline for RT+ET), before ET (T2, after RT for RT+ET and baseline for ET) and after ET (T3). Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine fibre cross-sectional area (fCSA), myonuclear content, myonuclear domain size, satellite cell number and mitochondrial content. Western blots were used to quantify markers of mitochondrial remodelling. Citrate synthase activity and markers of ribosome content were also investigated. RT improved body composition and strength, increased vastus lateralis thickness, mixed and type II fCSA, myonuclear number, markers of ribosome content, and satellite cell content (P < 0.050). In response to ET, both groups similarly decreased body fat percentage (P < 0.0001) and improved endurance performance (e.g. ${\dot{V}}_{O_2\max }$ , and speed at which the onset of blood lactate accumulation occurred, P < 0.0001). Levels of mitochondrial complexes I-IV in the ET-only group increased 32-66%, while those in the RT+ET group increased 1-11% (time, P < 0.050). Additionally, mixed fibre relative mitochondrial content increased 15% in the ET-only group but decreased 13% in the RT+ET group (interaction, P = 0.043). In conclusion, RT performed prior to ET had no additional benefits to ET adaptations. Moreover, prior RT seemed to impair mitochondrial adaptations to ET. KEY POINTS: Resistance training is largely underappreciated as a method to improve endurance performance, despite reports showing it may improve mitochondrial function. Although several concurrent training studies are available, in this study we investigated the effects of performing a period of resistance training on the performance and molecular adaptations to subsequent endurance training. Prior resistance training did not improve endurance performance and impaired most mitochondrial adaptations to subsequent endurance training, but this effect may have been a result of detraining from resistance training.

Keywords: HIIT; aerobic training; mitochondrial remodelling; skeletal muscle; strength training.

Figure 1.. Experimental Design.

Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; RT, Resistance Training; ET, Endurance Training; DEXA, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; VO₂max, Maximal oxygen consumption; 3 RM, 3-repetition maximum

Figure 2.. Body composition variables response to RT and ET.

A, Body mass (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11;ET-only, n=12). B, Lean body mass (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=11). C, Fat mass (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=11). D, Body fat percentage (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=11). E, Vastus lateralis thickness (T1-T3: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=12, ET-only, n=11). T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.

Figure 3.. Endurance performance variables response to RT and ET.

A, Absolute VO₂max (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). B, Relative VO₂max (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). C, Time to exhaustion (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). D, Onset of blood lactate accumulation (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.

Figure 4.. Markers of mitochondrial remodeling response to RT and ET.

A, Mitochondrial complexes (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=11). B, Mitophagy (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=11). C, Mitochondrial biogenesis (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=11). D, Mitochondrial fusion and fission (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=11). E, Representative Western blots. T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.

Figure 5.. Markers of ribosome content response to RT and ET.

A, Relative total RNA concentration (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). B, Estimated absolute RNA content (adjusted for mixed fiber cross-sectional area values) (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=12). C, Estimated absolute RNA content (adjusted for VL thickness values) (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). D, Ribosomal RNA transcripts (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: 45S, RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=11; 18S and 5.8S, RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.

Figure 6.. Fiber cross-sectional area, myonuclei and satellite cell number, and myonuclear domain responses to RT and ET.

A, Fiber cross-sectional area (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=9; ET-only, n=12). B, Cross-sectional myonuclei number (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=9, ET-only, n=12). C, Single fiber myonuclei number (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=12). D, Cross-sectional myonuclear domain (T1-T2: n=12; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=9; ET-only, n=12). E, Single fiber myonuclear domain (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=10; ET-only, n=12). F, Satellite cells content (T1-T2: n=10; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=7; ET-only, n=12). G, Single fiber representative image. H-J, Representative images of cross-sectional staining. H, Dystrophin (white), MHCI (magenta), DAPI (blue), Pax7 (green). I, Pax7. (J) Pax7 + DAPI. T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.

Figure 7.. Mitochondrial content responses to RT and ET.

A, Relative maximal CS activity (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). B, Total mitochondrial content estimation (via maximal CS activity and mixed fCSA values) (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). C, Total mitochondrial content estimation (via maximal CS activity and VL thickness) (T1-T2: n=13; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=11; ET-only, n=12). D, Relative mitochondrial content (via TOMM20 IHC) (T1-T2: n=9; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=9; ET-only, n=8). E, Total mitochondrial content estimation (via TOMM20 IHC and mixed fCSA values) (T1-T2: n=9; T2-T3: RT+ET, n=9; ET-only, n=8). F-G, Representative images of serial cross-sectional staining. F, Dystrophin (red), MHCI (green), DAPI (blue). G, Dystrophin (green), TOMM20 (red). T1 = Pre-RT; T2 = Pre-ET; T3 = Post-ET. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and individual respondent values are also depicted. Abbreviations: RT+ET, group that performed 7 weeks of resistance training followed by 7 weeks of endurance training; ET-only, group that performed 7 weeks of endurance training only; GxT, group x time interaction. Notes: t-test p-values are for the RT period in the RT+ET group, and the two-way ANOVA main effect and interaction p-values are for the ET period in both groups.