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C-terminal agrin fragment is inversely related to neuromuscular fatigue in older men
Jeffrey R Stout1, Maren S Fragala, Jay R Hoffman
1College of Education and Human Performance, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, University of Central Florida, 12494 University Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum C-terminal agrin fragment (CAF) concentrations and neuromuscular fatigue in older adults.
Methods:
Twenty-two healthy older men and women volunteered for this study. Resting fasted blood samples were collected and prepared for measurement of serum CAF concentration by a commercially available ELISA kit. The onset of neuromuscular fatigue was measured by monitoring electromyographic fatigue curves from the vastus lateralis muscle using the physical working capacity at fatigue threshold (PWCFT ) test.
Results:
A significant inverse correlation for men was observed between CAF and PWCFT (r = -0.602; P = 0.05), but not for women (r = 0.208; P = 0.54). After controlling for age and body mass index, significant correlations (r = -0.69; P = 0.042) remained for men, but not for women (r = 0.12; P = 0.76).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that serum CAF concentrations were significantly related to the onset of neuromuscular fatigue independent of age and BMI in men only.

