Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy and Atrophy

Scientists have now discovered/been able to demonstrate which proteins were resposible for the processes of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and atrophy. It is with regulation of Akt and the downstream signalling pathways to GSK-3ß, mTOR, and Foxo1 that those involved have been able to study these processes. Tests had been run on rodents and on cell models, but in this article, they discuss the results in human quadriceps muscle biopsies taken after 8 weeks of both hypertrophy-stimulating resistance training and atrophy-stimulating de-training. I think it is quite fascinating that they are able to simulate these phenomenons and study them. The full text can be found at:

http://jp.physoc.org/cgi/content/full/576/3/923