Acute resistance exercise increases skeletal muscle angiogenic growth factor expression

Both aerobic and resistance exercise training promote skeletal muscle angiogenesis. Acute aerobic exercise increases several pro-angiogenic pathways, the best characterized being increases in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We hypothesized that acute resistance exercise also increases skeletal muscle angiogenic growth factor [VEGF and angiopoietin (Ang)] expression.

Seven young, sedentary individuals had vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and blood drawn prior to and at 0, 2 and 4 h post-resistance exercise for the measurement of VEGF; VEGF receptor [KDR, Flt-1 and neuropilin 1 (Nrp1)]; Ang1 and Ang2; and the angiopoietin receptor--Tie2 expression. Resistance exercise consisted of progressive knee extensor (KE) exercise to determine one repetition maximum (1-RM) followed by three sets of 10 repetitions (3 x 10) of KE exercise at 60-80% of 1-RM.

Resistance exercise significantly increased skeletal muscle VEGF mRNA and protein and plasma VEGF protein at 2 and 4 h. Resistance exercise increased KDR mRNA and Tie2 mRNA at 4 h and Nrp1 mRNA at 2 and 4 h. Skeletal muscle Flt-1, Ang1, Ang2 and Ang2/Ang1 ratio mRNA were not altered by resistance exercise.

These findings suggest that acute resistance exercise increases skeletal muscle VEGF, VEGF receptor and angiopoietin receptor expression. The increases in muscle angiogenic growth factor expression in response to acute resistance exercise are similar in timing and magnitude with responses to acute aerobic exercise and are consistent with resistance exercise promoting muscle angiogenesis.