Short inter-set rest blunts resistance exercise-induced increases in myofibrillar protein synthesis and intracellular signaling in young males
James McKendry, Alberto Pérez-López, Michael McLeod, Dan Luo, R. Dent, Benoit Smeuninx, Jinglei Yu, Angela. E. Taylor, Andrew Philp, Leigh Breen
Experimental Physiology, Accepted manuscript online: 29 April 2016
Abstract
Background: Manipulating rest-recovery interval between sets of resistance exercise may influence training-induced muscle remodeling. The aim of this study was to determine the acute muscle anabolic response to resistance exercise performed with short or long inter-set rest intervals.
Methods: In a parallel-group designed study, 16 males completed 4 sets of bilateral leg press and knee extension exercise at 75% of 1RM to momentary muscular failure, followed by ingestion of 25 g of whey protein. Resistance exercise sets were interspersed by 1 min (1 M; n = 8 ) or 5 min of passive rest (5 M; n = 8 ). Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest, 0, 4, 24 and 28 h post-exercise during a primed-continuous infusion of L-[ring-13C6]phenylalanine to determine myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) and intracellular signaling.
Results: MPS rate increased above resting values over 0–4 h post-exercise in 1 M (76%; P = 0.047) and 5 M (152%; P < 0.001), and was significantly greater in 5 M (P = 0.001). MPS rates at 24–28 h post-exercise remained elevated above resting values (P < 0.05) and were indistinguishable between groups. Post-exercise p70S6KThr389 and rpS6Ser240/244 phosphorylation were reduced in 1 M compared with 5 M, whereas eEF2Thr56, TSC2Thr1462, AMPKThr172 phosphorylation and REDD1 protein were greater in 1 M compared with 5 M. Serum testosterone was greater at 20–40 min post-exercise and plasma lactate greater immediately post-exercise for 1 M vs. 5 M.
Conclusions: Resistance exercise with short (1 M) inter-set rest duration attenuated myofibrillar protein synthesis during the early post-exercise recovery period compared with longer (5 M) rest duration, potentially through compromised activation of intracellular signalling.