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. 2024 Apr;240(4):e14118.
doi: 10.1111/apha.14118. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Sex differences in neuromuscular and biological determinants of isometric maximal force

Gaia Giuriato  1   2 , Maria Grazia Romanelli  1 , Desirée Bartolini  3 , Gianluca Vernillo  4   5 , Anna Pedrinolla  1   6 , Tatiana Moro  7 , Martino Franchi  7 , Elena Locatelli  1 , Mehran Emadi Andani  1 , Fabio Giuseppe Laginestra  1   8 , Chiara Barbi  1 , Gloria Fiorini Aloisi  1 , Valentina Cavedon  1 , Chiara Milanese  1 , Elisa Orlandi  1 , Tonia De Simone  1 , Stefania Fochi  1 , Cristina Patuzzo  1 , Giovanni Malerba  1 , Paolo Fabene  1 , Massimo Donadelli  1 , Anna Maria Stabile  9 , Alessandra Pistilli  9 , Mario Rende  9 , Francesco Galli  3 , Federico Schena  1 , Massimo Venturelli  1   10
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Free article

Sex differences in neuromuscular and biological determinants of isometric maximal force

Gaia Giuriato et al. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2024 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Aim: Force expression is characterized by an interplay of biological and molecular determinants that are expected to differentiate males and females in terms of maximal performance. These include muscle characteristics (muscle size, fiber type, contractility), neuromuscular regulation (central and peripheral factors of force expression), and individual genetic factors (miRNAs and gene/protein expression). This research aims to comprehensively assess these physiological variables and their role as determinants of maximal force difference between sexes.

Methods: Experimental evaluations include neuromuscular components of isometric contraction, intrinsic muscle characteristics (proteins and fiber type), and some biomarkers associated with muscle function (circulating miRNAs and gut microbiome) in 12 young and healthy males and 12 females.

Results: Male strength superiority appears to stem primarily from muscle size while muscle fiber-type distribution plays a crucial role in contractile properties. Moderate-to-strong pooled correlations between these muscle parameters were established with specific circulating miRNAs, as well as muscle and plasma proteins.

Conclusion: Muscle size is crucial in explaining the differences in maximal voluntary isometric force generation between males and females with similar fiber type distribution. Potential physiological mechanisms are seen from associations between maximal force, skeletal muscle contractile properties, and biological markers.

Keywords: gut microbiota; miRNA; muscle force; muscle proteins; neuromuscular determinants; sex differences.

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