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Updated: May 14, 2026
Human Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Procedures Using the Modified Bergström Technique
Published on: September 10, 2014
Changes in skeletal muscle proteolytic gene expression after prophylactic supplementation of EGCG and NAC and
Chad M Kerksick1, Michael D Roberts, Vincent J Dalbo
1Department of Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Exercise Physiology Lab, MSC04 2610, Room B145, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
Purpose:
The impact of prophylactic supplementation of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on intramuscular expression of proteolytic genes after unaccustomed eccentric muscle contractions was investigated.
Methods:
Thirty apparently healthy males (mean ± SD: 20.0 ± 1.8 years, 175 ± 7.1cm, 76.1 ± 16.9 kg) ingested daily either 1,800 mg of NAC or 1,800 mg of EGCG (98% total polyphenols, 80% total catechins, and 50% EGCG), or 1,000 mg of a glucomannan placebo (PLA) in a double blind, prophylactic fashion for 14 days. Subjects then completed an unaccustomed eccentric exercise bout (100 repetitions at 30 °s(-1)) using the dominant knee extensors. Skeletal muscle biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis at baseline and both 6 and 24h after exercise. The expression of proteolytic genes [i.e., muscle ring-finger 1 (MuRF1), atrogin-1, α-type 20S subunit C2 (HC2), α-type 20S subunit C3 (HC3), ubiquitin protein ligase 3B (UBE3B), μ-calpain, and m-calpain] was quantified using real-time RT-PCR. Separate 3 × 3 (group × time) repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze changes in gene expression over time between groups.
Results:
No significant group × time interactions were detected between groups for the expression of any of the atrogenes or calpains (p>0.05). Significant main effects for time identified increases in MuRF1 (6h: 5.3 ± 10.8 fold; p=0.046), UBE3B (6h: 5.3 ± 7.7 fold; p=0.006; 24h: 3.3 ± 4.5 fold; p=0.005), and m-calpain expression (6h: 2.7 ± 4.4 fold; p=0.045) in all participants following exercise. Increases approached significance in HC2 (6h: 1.9 ± 2.4 fold; p=0.079; 24h: 1.6 ± 1.9 fold; p=0.084) and m-calpain expression (24h: 1.8 ± 2.3 fold; p=0.084) following exercise.
Conclusions:
Prophylactic supplementation of NAC and EGCG did not impact acute changes in skeletal muscle proteolytic gene expression following eccentric exercise. Eccentric muscle contractions elevated MuRF1 and UBE3B, while m-calpain and HC2 mRNA tended to increase.
